^ 

.*.^% 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


% 


^P 


1.0 


I.I 


l:i|2i    12.5 

|io   "^™     HUH 

^  Uii   12.2 
1^   VS.    112.0 


I 
llllim 

11.25  11.4   IIIIM.6 


I 


Ta 


■s^ 


m 


Photograidiic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STMET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)873-4503 


'^>^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHiS/l/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Instituta  for  Historical  Microraproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductions  hittoriquaa 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notoa/Notat  tachniquaa  at  bibliosraphiquaa 


Tha  Inatituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua. 
¥vhich  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aignif  icantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


□   Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


r~n    Covars  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagAa 


□   Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurte  at/ou  palliculAa 

0Covar  titia  miaaing/ 
La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

□   Colourad  mapa/ 
Cartaa  gAographiquaa  an  coulaur 


D 


Colourad  init  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


r~n   Colourad  plataa  and/or  illuatrationa/ 


0- 


D 


D 


Planchaa  at/ou  illuatrationa  an  coulaur 

Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
Rail*  avac  d'autraa  documanta 

Tight  binding  may  cauaa  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  re  liura  aarrie  paut  cauaar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
diatortion  la  long  da  la  marga  intAriaura 

Blank  laavaa  addad  during  raatoration  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  poaaibla.  thaaa 
hava  baen  omittad  from  filming/ 
II  aa  paut  qua  cartainaa  pagaa  blanchaa  ajouttea 
lora  d'una  raatauration  apparaiaaant  dana  la  taxta. 
maia,  loraqua  cala  Atait  poaaibla.  caa  pagaa  n'ont 
paa  M  filmAaa. 

Additional  commanta:/ 
Commantairaa  auppltmantairaa: 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilm*  la  maiilaur  axamplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  At*  poaaibla  da  aa  procurer.  Laa  dAtaila 
da  cat  axamplaira  qui  aont  paut-Atra  uniquaa  du 
point  da  vua  bibliographiqua,  qui  pauvant  modifiar 
una  imaga  raprodulta,  ou  qui  pauvant  axigar  una 
modification  dana  la  mAthoda  normala  da  filmaga 
aont  indiquAa  ci-daaaoua. 


Tha 
toti 


D 

r~n  Pagaa  damagad/ 

I     I  Pagaa  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 

I     I  Pagaa  diacolourad.  atainod  or  foxad/ 

I     I  Pagaa  datachad/ 

ryf  Showthrough/ 

I     I  Quality  of  print  variaa/ 

r     I  Includaa  aupplamantary  matarial/ 

r~n  Only  adition  availabia/ 


Colourad  pagaa/ 
Pagaa  da  coulaur 

Pagaa  damagad/ 
Pagaa  andommagAaa 

Pagaa  raatorad  and/oi 

Pagaa  raataurAaa  at/ou  pallicuMaa 

Pagaa  diacolourad.  atainod  or  foxat 
Pagaa  dAcolorAaa,  tachatAas  ou  piquAes 

Pagaa  datachad/ 
Pagaa  ditachAas 

Showthrough/ 
Tranaparanca 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualit*  in6gala  da  I'impreaaion 

Includaa  aupplamantary  matarii 
Comprand  du  material  aupplAmantaira 

Only  adition  availabia/ 
Saula  Adition  diaponibia 


Tha 
poai 
ofti 
filml 


Orig 
bagi 
thai 
aion 
otha 
firat 
aion 
or  ill 


D 


Pagaa  wholly  or  partially  obacurad  by  errata 
alips,  tiaaues,  ate,  hava  baan  refilmed  to 
enaure  the  beat  poaaibla  image/ 
Laa  pagaa  totalamant  ou  partiailamant 
obacurciaa  par  un  fauillat  d'errata,  una  pelure, 
etc..  ont  At  A  fiimAea  A  nouveau  da  fapon  A 
obtanir  la  meilleure  imaga  poaaibla. 


Tha 
ahall 
TIN! 
whif 

Map 
diff« 
antii 
bagii 
righl 
raqu 
mati 


Thia  itam  la  filmad  at  tha  reduction  ratio  chackad  balow/ 

Ca  document  eat  fllmA  au  taux  da  rAduction  indlquA  ci-daaaoua 

10X                   14X                   18X                  /hx 

26X 

30X 

L 

V 

12X 

16X 

20X 

MX 

28X 

32X 

\ 


Th«  copy  filmmi  h«r*  hat  b««n  r«produc«d  thanks 
to  tha  o«narotity  of: 

Thomas  FMmt  Rart  Book  Library, 
Univartity  off  Toronto  Library 


L'axamplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  grAca  A  la 
gAnAroait*  da: 

Thomai  Fiihar  Rara  Book  Library. 
Univanity  of  Toronto  Library 


Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
posaibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  apaeiflcationa. 


Original  coplaa  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  f ilmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  liluatratad  impras- 
aion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  approprlata.  All 
othar  original  coplaa  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
f  irat  paga  with  a  printad  or  liluatratad  impraa- 
alon.  and  anding  on  tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  liluatratad  Impraaalon. 


Las  imagaa  suivantas  ont  6ta  reproduites  «vac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  da  la  condition  et 
da  la  nattat*  da  l'axamplaira  film*,  et  an 
conformit*  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
ffiimaga. 

Laa  axamplairas  originaux  dont  la  couvarture  en 
papiar  est  imprimis  sont  film*s  en  commnnpant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniAre  paga  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  la  socond 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  las  autras  axemplairas 
originaux  sont  ffilmAs  en  commenpant  par  la 
pramiAre  paga  qui  comporte  une  empreinta 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


Tha  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
ahall  contain  tha  aymbol  "-^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED'),  or  tha  aymbol  ▼  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
darniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — »>  signifis  "A  SUIVRE  ".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Mapa,  plataa,  charta,  etc..  may  be  filmad  at 
diffarant  reduction  ratioa.  Thoaa  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  axpoaura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  frames  aa 
required.  The  following  diagrama  illuatrata  the 
method: 


Las  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  A\tre 
filmAs  A  dss  taux  de  rAduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  soul  clichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
da  I'angie  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imeges  nAcess&ire.  Los  diagrammes  suivant; 
illustrant  ia  rr^Athode. 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

f 


O.'X, 


( 


'* 


/  ,1 


<^' 


^vl^*"''' 


it. 


twrge'^ 


« 


f^/; 


»/> 


REPORT 


OF    THE 


FIFTH  ANNUAL  CONVENTION, 


HELD    AT 

September  12th,  13th  and  14th,  1877. 

PRINTED    BY   OilDER   OF    CONVENTION. 
BUIDGEPOBT: 

FABMKR   OFFICE  STE^M  JOB  PBX8B,   COB.   WAJJli  AND  WATEU  BTS. 

1877. 


i 


PRELIMINARY    PROCEEDINGS. 


Tuesday  Evening,  September  11th,  1877. 


The  delegates  to  the  fifth  annual  Convention  of  the  North 
America  St.  George's  Union  assembled  at  St.  George's  Hall,  in 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  at  8  o'clock  p.  m.  The  beautiful  room 
was  handsomely  decorated  with  flags,  the  English  and  American 
predominating.  On  each  side  of  the  statue  of  St.  George  and  the 
dragon,  which  surmounts  the  building,  were  respectively  the  Amer- 
ican and  English  flags. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  the  venerable  President, 
Lewis  Thompson,  Esq.,  who,  in  the  name  of  the  ''Sons  of  St. 
George"  of  Philadelphia,  cordially  welcomed  them  to  the  City 
of  "  Brotherly  Love,"  at  the  same  time  introducing  Wm.  Waterall, 
Esq.,  Vice-President  of  the  "  Sons  of  St.  George,"  who,  in  an  elo- 
quent address,  tendered  a  hearty  welcome  to  the  "  North  America 
St.  George's  Union."  He  was  followed  by  W.  T.  Wilkins,  Esq., 
who  also  delivered  an  address  of  welcome.  Responses  to  these 
addresses  were  delivered  by  the  following  delegates :  D.  Batche- 
lor,  of  Utica,  N.  Y. ;  C.  E.  Peirce,  of  Hamilton,  Ont. ;  J.  A.  H.  St. 
Andrew,  of  Va. ;  and  G.  W.  Longstaff,  of  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

After  the  singing  of  "  God  Save  the  Queen,"  the  meeting  ad- 
journed to  the  lower  hall,  and  resolving  itself  into  a  social  body, 
had  a  real  enjoyable  time. 

(The  addresses  of  welcome,  responses,  inaugural  address  and 
papers  read,  will  be  found  in  full  in  the  Addenda.) 


»!&• 


FIRST   DAY'S   PROCEEDINGS. 


Wednesday,  September  12th,  1877. 


MORNIKO  SESSION. 

Tbe  Convention  met  at  10  o'clock  a.  a.;  the  Hon.  Lewis 
Thompson,  President,  occupied  the  chair,  Th6  proceedings  were 
opened  with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Suddards,  Chaplain  to  the 
Union  and  the  Philadelphia  Society  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George. 

Tbe  Vice-President  of  the  Sons. of  St.  George  of  Philadelphia, 
Wni.  Waterall,  Esq.,  at  the  request  of  the  President,  (who  was 
suffering  from  indisposition),  read  the  inaugural  address. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  G.  Lindley,  of  Brantford,  Ont.,  the  thanks 
of  the  Convention  were  returned  to  Mr.  Thompson  for  his  admir- 
able address. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  as  secretaries:  Rev. 
W.  D'OrviUe  Doty,  of  Waterloo,  N.  Y.;  S.  C.  Collis,  of  Philadel- 
phia; C.  E.  Peirce,  of  Hamilton,  Ont.;  and  S.  Trees,  of  Toronto, 
Ont. 

Messrs.  D.  Batchelor,  of  Utica;  F.  R.  Price,  of  Virginia;  John 
Pennie,  Jr.,  of  Albany ;  0.  Chase,  of  Guelph,  Ont. ;  and  G.  Lind- 
ley, of  Brantford,  Ont.,  were  appointed  a  Committee  on  Credentials. 

Mr.  Alfred  Green,  of  Hamilton,  Ont.,  was  appointed  Sergeant- 
at-Arms,  and  Mr.  W.  T.  Wilkins,  of  Philadelphia^  Assistant. 

Mr.  Wm.  Tomlin,  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  Secretary  to  the  Exec- 
utive Committee,  then  read  the  annual  report.  On  motion,  it  was 
adopted. 

ANNUAL  BEPOBT  OF  THE  EXEOUTTVE  COMMITl'EE. 

GeiUkmm  of  the  St.  Gewg^s  Union: 

In  presenting  a  record  of  the  proceedings  of  the  North  America 
St.  G«orge's  Union  during  the  past  year,  your  Committee,  as  a 
matter  of  justice,  feel  callml  on,  in  the  first  place,  to  express  their 
•deep  sense  of  the  generous  reception  given  to  the  Convention  at  its 


last  meeting  in  the  beautiful  city  of  Hamilton,  in  Canada.  To 
the  warm-hearted  members  of  the  St.  George'^  Society,  and  to  the 
public-spirited  citizens  of  Hamilton,  is  due  the  credit  of  the  success 
which  attended  our  last  Convention,  and  which  will  make  it  mem- 
orable in  the  annals  of  the  Union. 

« 

BEGIKTER   AND  STATISTICS  OF  THE   ST.   OEOROE'S  SOCIETIES. 

One  of  the  first  official  acts  undertaken  by  Mr.  William  Tomlin, 
Corresponding  Secretary,  on  behalf  of  your  Committee,  was  the  is- 
suance of  a  circular  to  the  St.  George's  Societies  of  the  United 
States  and  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  asking  for  statistics  as  to 
membership,  income,  expenditures,  etc.  Sixty-two  societies  were 
applied  to,  and  replies  were  received  from  thirty-four,  of  which 
eighteen  belonged  to  the  United  States  and  sixteen  to  Canada. 
These  thirty-four  societies  possess  upwards  of  «5,000  members. 
Their  funded  capital  amounts  to  $115,794.  From  twenty  of  these 
societies  it  was  reported  that  14,500  persons  had  been  relieved 
during  the  last  fiscal  year,  at  an  outlay  of  $15,800.  A  calcnlation 
based  on  these  returns,  shows  that  the  St.  George's  Societies  of 
North  America  expend,  in  the  aggregate,  not  less  than  Fifty 
Thousand  Dollars  per  aunum  in  charitable  relief. 

Your  Committee  have  made  up  the  following  list  of  existing  so- 
cieties, viz. :  The  Sons  of  St  George  and  Albion  Society,  Philadel- 
phia ;  Albion  Society  and  St.  George's  Society,  New  York  city ; 
the  St.  George's  Societies  of  Utica,  Buffalo,  Albany,  Skaneateles, 
Waterloo,  Oswego,  Schenectady,  Cohoes,  Syracuse,  Little  Falls, 
Auburn  and  Rochester,  in  New  York  State ;  Bridgeport,  Connecti- 
cut; Newark  and  Patterson,  New  Jersey;  Worcester  and  Fall 
River,  Massachusetts;  Cleveland  and  Toledo,  Ohio;  Detroit, 
Michigan ;  Indianapolis,  Indiana ;  Chicago  and  Peoria,  Illinois ; 
Augusta,  Savannah  and  Atlanta,  Georgia;  Charleston,  South 
Carolina ;  St.  Louis  and  St.  Joseph,  Missouri ;  Memphis,  Tennes- 
SGG ;  Pittsbu^h,  Pennsylvania ;  Omaha,  Nebraska ;  San  Antonio, 
Texas;  San  Francisco,  California;  Baltimore,  Maryland ;  and  Fred- 
ericksburg, Virginia.  Also,  the  British  Association  of  Vir^nia, 
British  Society  of  Farmville,  Virginia,  and  the  Cockney,  Anglo- 
American  and  Britannia  Societies  of  Brooklyn ;  the  British  Provi- 
dent Society  of  New  York,  and  the  Alfredians  of  Boston  and 
Providence.  In  Canada,  there  are  St.  George's  Societies  in  Ham- 
ilton, Kingston,  Guelph,  Bellville,  Peterborough,  Strathroy,  Clif- 
ton, St.  Catharine's,  London,  Ottawa,  Toronto,  Gait,  Brantford, 
Coburg,  Pfescott,  Quebec,  Montreal  and  Halifax.  It  is  probable 
that  some  societies  may  have  been  omitted  from  this  list,  and  your 
Committee  will  be  glad  to  receive  information  in  respect  to  any 
such.  From  this  register  of  the  St.  George's  Societies,  it  will  be 
seen  that  they  constitute  a  great  power,  and  properly  united  in  the 


work  of  this  Union,  none  can  measure  the  amount  of  good  which 
they  are  capable  of  accomplishing  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  this  great  continent. 

ST.  oboboe's  day  and  our  patron  saint. 

St.  George's  Day— our  great  anniversary— is  becoming  year  by 
year  more  generally  observed  throughout  the  United  Statets  and 
the  Dominion  of  Canada.  To  tens  of  thousands  of  Anglo-Ameri- 
cans, the  23d  of  April  is  the  red-letter  day  in  their  calendar. 
Meeting  in  this  splendid  St.  George's  Hall,  surmounted  by  the  no- 
blest statue  of  St.  George  which  genius  has  ever  designed  or  fash- 
ioned, a  few  words  respecting  our  patror  saint  may  not  be  out  of 
place. 

There  is  some  doubt  about  the  legendary  history  of  St.  George. 
Butler,  a  very  reliable  historian,  maintains  that  St.  George  was 
bom  of  Christian  parents  in  Cappadocia,  obtained  high 'distinction 
in  the  army,  and  was  beheaded  for  his  faith,  under  the  Emperor  Dio- 
cletian.   A  thousand  heroic  achievements  have  been  accredited  to 
St.  George.    He  slew  an  immense  and  ferocious  dragon,  and  is 
said  to  have  saved  a  king's  daughter  as  the  monster  was  about  to 
devour  her.    It  is  in  the  perfonnance  of  this  chivalric  deed  that 
he  is  represented  on  horseback,  armed  with  a  lance  and  piercing 
the  dragon.    St.  George  was  the  patron  saint  of  Genoa  as  well  as 
of  England,  and  he  is  particularly  honored  in  Russia.    In  ancient 
times,  in  England,  when  knighthood  was  conferred,  the  sovereign, 
addressing  the  knight,  used  to  say,  "  God  and  St.  George  make 
thee  a  good  knight."    Whatever  may  have  been  the  real  character 
of  the  saint,  he  has  been  held  in  the  highest  honor  in  England 
from  a  very  early  period.    In  the  calendars  of  both  the  Greek  and 
Latin  Churches,  he  shared  the  23d  of  April  in  common  with  other 
saints.    A  Saxon  martyrology,  however,  declares  that  the  day  was 
dedicated  to  him  alone ;  and  ever  since  the  time  of  the  Nonnan 
conquest,  the  day  has  been  celebrated  by  Englishmen  in  the  most 
approved  manner.    In  1344,  the  feast  was  made  memorable  by 
the  creation  of  the  Order  of  the  Garter,  of  which  St.  George  is 
patron,  and  the  knights  of  which  have  their  stalls  in  St.  George's 
Chapel,  Windsor.    The  Order  of  St.  Michael  and  St.  George  has 
been  more  recently  instituted.    Among  our  forefathers,  by  both 
feast  and  tournament,  the  day  became  the  occasion  of  great  rejoic- 
ing throughout  the  nation.    Many  of  the  old  customs  have  become 
obsolete,  but  the  day  is  still  honored  by  Englishmen  in  all  parts 
of  the  world;  and  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  St.  George's 
Societies,  the  name  of  the  saint  is  perpetuated,  and  a  large  amount 
of  chanty  18  dispensed. 

According  to  tradition,  St.  George  was  brave,  gallant,  noble 
and  chivalrous,  and  to  those  who  have  ranged  themselves  under 


his  banner  and  cheriBh  his  memory,  he  is  not  .only  the  ideal  hero 
of  romance,  bnt  the  source  of  inspiration  to  benevolence  and  Chris- 
tian 1(»ve  towards  their  fellow  man.  Let  us  strive  to  be  worthy  of 
St.  George,  and  our  societies  everywhere  will  have  to  complain 
neither  of  lack  of  numbers  nor  of  funds. 

PROPOSALS  FOR  THE  INCREASED  USEFULNESS   OF  THE  UNION. 

Your  Committee  have  carefully  considered  the  best  means  of 
adding  interest  and  usefulness  to  the  annual  Conventions  of  the 
Union.  Many  new  features  will  be  introduced  during  our  present 
sessions,  with,  it  is  hoped,  great  advantage.  The  papers  to  be 
read  by  Messrs.  Batchelor,  Underdown  and  Tomlin,  will,  it  is 
believed,  awaken  and  renew  enthusiasm  for  the  good  work  which 
is  being  accomplished  by  our  St.  George's  Societies.  There  is 
plenty  of  latent  energy  in  our  societies,  but  it  needs  to  bd  aroused 
and  stimulated,  and  this  is  precisely  the  vocation  of  the  St. 
George's  Union.  Your  Executive  Committee  also  believe  that 
when  the  Union  is  in  full  working  order,  it  will  become  a  valua- 
ble means  of  aiding  members  of  the  various  societies  who  may 
desire  to  change  their  residences  from  one  part  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada  to  another,  and  generally  will  prove  highly 
useful  to  members.  With  this  view,  the  subject  of  visiting  cards 
for  members  of  the  Union  has  been  carefully  considered  by  your 
Committee,  and  such  cards  are  now  ready  and  will  be  supplied  to 
affiliated  societies  by  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  at  a  cost  of  $2 
per  hundred.  To  prevent  imposition,  your  Committee  recommend 
that  each  affiliated  society  be  requested  to  report  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Union  all  cases  of  fraud  on  the  part  of  applicants  for  relief, 
and  that  such  information  be  circulated  among  the  societies  gener- 
ally, for  the  prevention  of  further  fraud.  It  is  to  be  desirea  that 
all  affiliating  societies  forward  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Union,  an- 
nually, their  list  of  officers  and  reports. 

■COMMON  SEAL. 

At  the  last  annual  Convention,  Capt.  C.  S.  Sanlt,  on  behalf  of 
the  Cohoes  St.  George's  Society,  kindly  offered  to  present  to  the 
Union  a  common  seal.  The  promise  thus  made  has  been  faithful- 
ly carried  out,  and  the  thanks  of  the.  Union  are  due  to  the  Cohoes 
Society  for  their  generous  donation. 

PROPOSED  NEW   CONSTITUTION. 

Mr.  St.  Andrew,,  of  Virginia,  at  the  last  annual  Convention, 
moved  the  following  resolutions,  which  were  referred  to  the  Exec- 
utive Committee,  to  report  thereon  At  this  meeting : 

"  1 .  That  while  the  North  American  St.  George's  Union  is  only 
an  advisory  body  and  cannot  claim  jurisdiction  over  the  charters 


and  oonutitutioiiH  of  St.  George's  SocieticB  already  exiHting,  it  is 
nevertheless  important  that  the  Union  should,  as  the  central  au- 
thority, secure  powers  whereby  persons  who  may  henceforth  desire 
to  form  St.  George's  Societies,  can  secure  charters  from  this  Union. 

"2.  That  the  executive  officers  of  this  Union  be  instructed  to 
procure  an  act  of  incorporation  from  the  Congress  of  the  United 
Stotes  and  the  Dominion  Parliament,  conferring  the  necessarv 
powers  for  the  issuing  of  charters  to  subordinate  societies  and  such 
other  purposes  as  they  raav  deem  needful  for  the  good  of  the 
Union.^' 

Your  Executive  Committee  have  duly  deliberated  on  the  above 
resolutions,  and  respectfully  recommend — 

1.  That  the  Union  be  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

2.  That  the  chief  offices  of  the  Union  be  permanently  located 
in  Philadelphia. 

With  a  view  to  further  carrying  out  the  spirit  of  these  resolu- 
tions, the  Executive  Committee  have  prepared  a  new  Constitution, 
which  will  be  submitted  to  the  Convention,  and  which,  if  adopted, 
will  enable  the  Union  to— 

1.  Issue  charters  for  new  St.. George's  Societies,  wherever  four 
or  more  qualified  persons  may  desire  to  establish  a  society. 

2.  To  issue  charters  of  confirmation  to  existing  societies  desirous 
of  joining  the  Union. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  adoption  of  this  Constitution  may 
enable  the  Union  to  become  a  great  federation  of  societies,  while 
the  Union  will  also  directly  encoiu-age  and  foster  the  formation  of 
new  societies. 

BADGES  OF  MEMBERSHIP. 

^  The  subject  of  badges  of  membership,  upon  which  your  Execu- 
tive Committee  were  instructed  at  the  last  Convention  to  take 
definite  measures,  awaits  the  action  of  local  societies.*  The  ex- 
pense of  producing  the  badges  selected,  was  such  that  your  Com- 
mittee deferred  ordering  the  same  until  they  were  guaranteed  that 
a  sufficient  number  would  be  taken  by  the  members  to  warrant 
them  in  so  doing. 

t 

THE  INTERNATIONAL  BRITISH  CELEBRATION. 

At  the  last  annual  Convention,  an  invitation  was  extended  to 
and  accepted  by  the  Union,  to  take  part  in  the  International  Brit- 
ish Celebration,  in  Petersburg,  Virginia,  on  Queen  Victoria's  birth- 
day, in  May  last.  The  Convention  appointed  Messrs.  C.  E. 
Pierce,  of  Hamilton;  Wm.  Underdown,  of  Philadelphia:  0.  S. 
Sault,  of  Cohoes,  and  Wm.  Tomlin,  of  Connecticut,  a  mecikl  com- 
raittee  to  cooperate  with  the  British  Association  of  Virginia  in  the 


9 


arrangementH  tor  the  International  Celebration.  In  discharge  of 
the  duties  thus  imposed,  Mr.  Wm.  Tomlin,  in  March  last,  visited 
Petersburg  for  the  purpose  of  conferring  with  the  British  Associa- 
tion. During  this  visit  to  Virginia,  Mr.  Tomlin  was  the  recipient 
of  many  honors  and  hospitalities,  wliich  evidenced  the  high  regard 
felt  f(»r  our  St.  George's  Union  in  the  Old  Dominion.  As  Secreta- 
ry of  the  Union,  Mr.  Tomlin  appended  his  signature  to  addresses 
to  Her  Most  Gracious  Majestv  Queen  Victoria,  and  to  His  Royal 
Highness  Pnnco  Leopold,  which  elicited  from  those  distinguished 
personages  wann  expressions  of  interost  in  the  International  Cele- 
bration. Mr.  Tomhn  was  also  presented  with  an  "Address  of 
Welc(mie,"  signed  by  the  Hon.  D.  B.  Tennant,  President  of  the 
British  Association,  and  by  the  Hon.  Wm.  E.  Cameron,  Mayor  of 
Petersburg.  Mr.  Tomlin  was  fuither  entertained  at  a  compliment- 
ary banquet,  and  his  visit  to  Virginia  was  favorably  commented 
on  by  the  press  in  all  parts  of  that  State. 

Returning  home  with  a  strong  determination  to  make  the  Inter- 
national CeleViration  a  great  success,  Mr.  Tomlin  corresponded 
with  every  St.  George's  Society  in  the  United  States  and  Canada, 
and  conducted  an  immense  correspondence  with  railroad  compa- 
nies, in  order  to  secure  reduced  fares  for  members  of  the  various 
societies  attending  the  celebration.  The  results  of  the  joint  labors 
of  the  special  committee  of  the  Union  and  of  the  British  Associa- 
tion, are  known  to  all.  The  International  British  Celebration  was 
a  magnificent  success.  It  extended  over  four  days,  and  the  festiv- 
ities included  a  grand  military  display,  civic  and  societarial  pro- 
cessions, religious  services,  excursions,  a  grand  banquet  and 
numerous  social  gatherings  and  other  public  and  private  festivities 
on  the  most  elaborate  and  costly  scale.  Her  Majesty  Queen  Vic- 
toria, His  Excellency  the  President  of  the  United  States  and  His 
Excellency  the  Governor-General  of  Canada,  forwarded  special 
messages  of  sympathy  and  congratulation.  Altogether,  the  Cele- 
bration was  a  unique  and  glorious  event.  The  fame  of  it  has 
extended  throughout  the  habitable  world.  The  American  press 
everywhere  noticed  it  with  approval.  The  English  papers,  from 
the  Land's  End  to  John  O'Groats,  published  cablegrams  and  lead- 
ing articles  on  the  celebration,  and  combined  to  give  Old  Virginia 
and  the  hospitable  Cockade  City  noble  reco^ition,  which  cannot 
fail  to  be  of  lasting  good  to  the  gallant  and  chivalric  people  of  the 
Ancient  Dominion.  The  Canadian  papers,  from  end  to  end  of  the 
New  Dominion,  published  reports  and  eulogies  on  the  celebration. 


INTERNATIONAL  COURTESIES. 


As  a  conspicuous  proof  of  the  good  done  by  the  International 
British  Celebration,  your  Committee  have  pleasure  in  mentioning 
that  the  municipal  address  presented  to  Ex-President  Grant  in 


10 


Manchester,  and  rgad  by  Sir  Joseph  Heron  thejown  Clerk,  con- 
tained  the  following  direct  reference  to  th.  Celebration : 

«  We  feel  that  vour  visit,  coinciding  as  it  does  with  the  Kina 
expressions  which  the  birthday  of  onr  beloved  sovereign  recently 
evoked  in  the  United  States,  is  likely  to  do  mnch  to  increase  the 
good  feeling  which  happily  now  exists,  and  which  a  common  lan- 
guage, kindred  and  descent  ought  to  render  permanent. 

A  leading  English  paper,  remarking  on  Ex-President  ferants 
visit  to  England,  said  editorially :  mu-    •         • 

"General  Grant  has  been  cordially  welcomed.  This  is  as  it 
should  be.  Americans,  the  other  day,  celebrated  the  birthday  of 
Queen  Victoria.  Such  a  compliment  well  deserves  a  cordial  re- 
turn."* ,  ,  ^ 

In  view  of  these  facts,  your  Committee  feel  that  the  great  Inter- 
national gathering  in  Petersburg,  Virginia,  last  May,  has  directly 
tended  to  promote  "  peao^  on  earth  and  good  will  towards  men," 
and  has  very  largely  increased  the  friendship  now  so  happily  sub- 
sisting between  the  United  Kingdom  and  the  United  States. 

THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  CELEBRATION. 

Long  and  interesting  accounts  of  the  Celebration  have  been 

SubUshed  in  the  press,  from  the  accomplished  pens  of  Alderman 
[cLellan,  President  of  the  St.  Andrew's  Society  of  Hamilton ;  C. 
E.  Peirce,  Esq.,  of  the  Hamilton  St.  George's  Society ;  the  Hon. 
W.  B.  McMurrich,  President  of  the  Toronto  St.  Andrew's  Society, 
and  the  Rev.  Canon  Street,  D.  D.,  of  the  Chicago  St.  George's 
Society,  all  of  whom  attended  the  Celebration.  Your  Committee 
have  pleasure  in  announcing  that  Mr.  John  J.  Campbell,  the  tal- 
ented Assistant  Secretary  of  the  British  Association  of  Virginia,  is 
preparing  for  publication  a  full  and  complete  account  of  the  festiv- 
ities in  connection  with  the  International  British  Celebration. 
This  work,  which  will  be  published  under  the  auspices  of  the 
North  America  St.  George's  Union  and  of  the  British  Association 
of  Virginia,  will  be  of  great  and  permanent  value.  Whatever  the 
St.  George's  Societies  can  do  to  extend  its  circulation  will,  un- 
doubtedly, tend  to  promote  peace  and  friendship  between  England 
and  America.  The  contents  of  Mr.  Campbell's  book  will  be  divid- 
ed under  the  following  heads : 
Reception  Meetings  of  Visitors  from  United  States  and  Canada, 


viz: 


Delegates  from  the  North  America  St.  George's  Union. 
Delegates  from  North  America  United  Caledonian  Association. 
The  Press  Association  of  Virginia. 

Speeches  by  Mayor  Cameron,  the  President  of  the  British  Asso- 
ciation of  Vir^nia  and  Visitors. 
Siieoial  Religious  Service  at  St.  Paul's  Church. 


b 
d; 

E 

£ 

n 
\ 


a 
b 
a 


♦; 


m 


Annual  Address  on  a  British  Farmer's  Experience  in  Virginia, 
by  J.  W.  Hebditch,  Esq.,  author  of  "  Three  Yeare  in  Virginia." 
.  Annual  Meeting  of  the  British  Association  of  Virginia. 

Grand  Banquet  in  honor  of  Her  Majesty  Queen  Victoria's  Birth- 
day. 

Toasts  and  Sentiments.     Speeches  and  Responses  in  full. 

One  hundred  Telegi'ams  and  Letters  of  Congratulation  from 
Royalty  and  eminent  and  distinguished  persons  in  the  United 
Kingdom,  the  Dominion  of  Canada  and  the  United  States. 

Excursions,  Visits  to  the  Lines  around  Petersburg.  Compli- 
mentary Concert  at  the  Academy  of  Music. 

Closing  Festivities  at  the  Rooms  of  the  British  Association, of 
Virginia. 

Comments  of  the  Press  of  three  Countries. 
*  The  Results. 

Every  Englishman  in  the  United  States  and  United  Kingdom, 
and  every  Canadian,  may  well  be  proud  to  secure  a  copy  of  a 
book  which  will  tell,  for  years  to  come,  the  story  of  brotherly  love 
amorig  Anglo-Saxons  all  the  world  over. 

ACTION   OF  ST.   GEORGE's   SOCIETIES. 

The  Society  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George  of  Philadelphia,  the  St. 
George's  Society  of  London,  Canada,  and  many  other  St.  George's 
Societies  have,  by  appropriate  resolutions,  acknowledged  the  gen- 
eroiis  hospitality  shown  to  their  representatives  by  the  good  people 
of  Virginia.  In  view  of  the  important  part  taken  by  the  North 
America  St.  George's  Union  in  the  International  British  Celebra- 
tion, your  Committee  suggest  that  the  Convention  should  adopt 
some  suitable  means  of  recording  the  satisfaction  of  the  Union  at 
the  entire  success  of  the  Celebration. 

QUEEN   victoria's   BIRTHDAY. 

Many  of  the  St.  George's  Societies  of  Canada  took  a  prominent 
part  in  the  public  celebrations  of  Queen  Victoria's  birthday  in  the 
Dominion,  and  your  Committee  are  glad  to  state  that  the  day  was 
also  marked  by  festivities  in  several  par's  of  the  United  States,  in 
addit'on  to  those  of  the  International  Celebration  in  Virginia. 
The  Onondaga  County  St.  George's  Society  had  a  most  agreeable 
celebration  in  Syracuse.  These  proofs  of  the  love  and  esteem 
with  which  Queen  Victoria  is  regarded  in  the  United  States,  have 
more  than  ever  endeared  to  Anglo-Americans  the  land  of  their 
adoption,  and  these  events,  one  .and  all,  testify  to  the  fact  that 
Englishmen  and  Americans  are  determined,  henceforth,  to  make 
their  kinship  as  much  a  matter  of  heart  and  mind  as  it  is  inde- 
structibly of  race,  language  and  religion. 


12 


•      ST.  GEORGE'S  HOUSB,   PHILADELPHIA. 

Enfflish  visitors  to  the  Centennial  Exposition  last  year,  cannot 
faifSavo  noticed  the  beautiful  St.  Georges  House  erected  by- 
the  British  Government.  To  the  great  g-^tificat.o"  of  y^^^^^ 
mittee,  St.  George's  House  has  been  presented  by  Hei  Maje8t,v« 
Government  to  the  United  States,  and  will  remain  a  «tandi"& 
memorial  of  international  friendship  and  an  object  of  peculiar 
pleasure  to  the  brethren  of  St.  George. 

ARBITRATION    Af    A   MEANS   OF    SETTLING    DISPUTES    BETWEEN 
CAPITAL  AND   LABOR. 

While  your  Executive  Committee  were  in  session  in  Philadel- 
phia, in  July  last,  J.  Harper  Morris,  Esq.,  an  English  gentlemap, 
occasionally  resident  in  this  city,  directed  their  attention  to  the 
great  good  which  might  be  accomplished  by  the  adoption  of  arbi- 
tration as  a  means  of  settlement  in  the  great  strikes  then  agitating 
the  country.  Methods  of  arbitration  in  disputes  between  capital 
and  labor, 'have  hme  been  popular  in  England,  and  have  received 
the  support  of  Lord  Beaconsfield,  Mr.  Gladstone,  Mr.  Bright  and 
other  great  statesmen.  Your  Committee,  after  long  and  anxi»>iis 
consideration,  came  to  the  conclusion  that  they  would  be  justified 
in  taking  action,  and  on  the  25th  of  July,  they  adopted  the  fol- 
lowing 

Memorandum. 

1.  That  the  members  of  the  St.  George's  Societies  of  the  United 
States,  among  whom  are  many  thousands  of  adopted  citizens  and 
sons  of  adopted  citizens,  view  with  grave  anxiety  the  present  in- 
dustrial crisis  in  which  their  interests,  public  and  private,  in  com- 
mon with  those  of  their  fellow  citizens  throughout  the  republic, 
are  directly  involved. 

2.  That  experience  in  Europe  has  demonstrated  beyond  doubt, 
that  the  only  hope  of  satisfactorily  closing  disputes  between  capi- 
tal and  labor  is  to  be  found  in  wisely  conceived  and  judiciously 
carried  out  methods  of  arbitration  between  the  contending  parties. 

3.  That  the  advantages  of  arbitration  as  a  means  of  settlement 
for  international  and  national  disputes,  have  been  abundantly  man- 
ifested by  the  peaceful  and  happy  arrangement  of  the  Alabama 
claims  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States,  and  by  the 
solving  of  numerous  industrial  problems  on  both  sides  of  the  At- 
lantic. 

4.  That  the  present  Government  of  the  United  States,  having 
already  earned  the  gratitude  of  fhe  nation  by  a  policy  of  domestic 
peace,  would,  by  the  initiation  of  proposals  for  arbitration  between 
the  laihroad  companies  and  the  men  now  on  strike,  confer  immense 


.  Ilf>. 


13 


•ip 


benefits  on  the  trade  and  commerce  of  the  country,  on  the  laboring 
classes  and  on  the  people  at  lar^e,  while  any  suggestions  emanat- 
ing from  so  high  authority  would  be  likely  to  give  equal  satisfa^;- 
tion  to  the  contending  parties,  and  would  probably  be  gladly 
accepted  by  both  as  a  sure  and  certain  means  of  extrication  fr^m 
further  loss  and  disaster. 

5.  That  it  be  respectfully  suggested  by  this  Committee  that  if 
the  United  States  Government  would  take  the  lead  in  establishing 
a  joint  commission  of  masters  and  men,  with  some  leading  states- 
man designated  by  the  President,  as  chairman  thereof,  all  questions 
now  in  dispute  could  be  speedily  settled  by  arbitration,  and  that 
the  confidence  of  the  workmen  in  such  a  tribunal  would  probably 
induce  them  to  resume  work  until  a  fair  and  equitable  adjustment 
could  be  reached.  * 

6.  That  Mr.  St.  Andrew  be  appointed  to  convey  this  memoran- 
dum to  the  Hon.  W.  M.  Evajts,  Secretary  of  State,  Washington. 

(Signed)  Lewis  Thompson,  President. 

Wm.  Undbrdown,  Secretary. 

In  accordance  with  the  above,  Mr.  St.  Andrew  visited  Washing- 
ton on  July  26th,  and  sought  an  interview  with  Mr.  Evarts.  It 
happened  that  the  day  was  a  Thursday,  which  had  consequently 
been  reserved  by  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  reception  of  foreign 
ambassadors  only.  Notwithstanding  that  it  was  a  violation  of  offi- 
cial eiiquette,  Mr.  Evarts,  in  the  kindest  possible  manner,  at  once 
accorded  an  interview  to  your  representative.  In  presenting  the 
memorandum,  Mr.  St.  Andrew,  on  behalf  of  the  Committee,  inform- 
ed Mr.  Secretary  Evarts  that  our  Union  was  a  body  which,  to  a 
large  extent,  represented  both  capital  and  labor  among  its  mem- 
bership, and  that  many  of  our  members  had  seen  strikes  satisfacto- 
rily settled  by  arbitration  in  Europe;  also,  that  in  England,  during 
a  great  strike,  the  Government  had  appointed  a  royal  commission, 
composed  partly  of  both  masters  and  men,  and  the  results  had  been 
highly  gratifying. 

Mr.  St.  Andrew  further  said  that  as  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  the  members  of  the  St.  Geo^e's  Societies  were  deeply  con- 
cerned in  the  then  condition  of  affairs,  and  anxious  to  discover 
some  means  of  permanent  settlement,  which  they  believed  arbitra- 
tration  would  afford.  Even  if  the  riote  were  suppressed,  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  the  country  would  suffer  so  long  as  the  strikes 
continued ;  hence,  the  necessity  for  adopting  arbitration  as  soon  as 
public  order  was  restored. 

Mr.  Evarts,  in  reply,  expressed  his  general  approval  of  the 
principle  of  arbitration,  and  kindly  promised  to  give  the  matter 
due  consideration. 

OEKEBA.L  APPBOVAL  OF  ABBITBATION. 

Your  Committee  trust  that  the  course  they  adopted  in  seeking  to 


14 


Mcure  a  peaceful  settlement  of  the  terrible  troubles  then  afflicting 
the  country,  will  be  approved  by  the  Convention.  The  >iew  York 
Herald  pronounced  the  idea  of  arbitration,  as  suggested  by  your 
Committee,  "a  sensible  one,"  and  it  met  with  general  approbation 
among  both  employers  and  employed,  and  very  largely  in  the 
newspaper  press.     It  may  yet  prove  of  lasting  benefit  to  the 

nation.  ,         .       ,         .^        'j. 

The  following  resolution,  endorsing  the  action  of  your  Commit- 
tee, was  passed  at  a  regular  meeting  of  the  St.  George's  Society  of 
Bridgeport,  Conn.,  held  on  Monday,  August  6th,  1877  : 

"  Resolved,  That  we  fully  endorse  the  action  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  North  America  St.  George's  Union,  with  regard 
to  arbitration  as  a  means  of  preventing  strikes. 

*      Attest :  G.  Kingston,  Secretary." 

Your  Committee  having  been  the  first  to  suggest  voluntary  arbi- 
tration as  a  means  of  preventing  strikes,  rejoice  to  record  the  gen- 
eral favor  with  which  the  idea  nas  been  received.  A  remarkable 
proof  of  this  is  found  in  the  fact  that  in  Ohio  and  other  States,  the 
great  political  parties  of  the  republic  have  cordially  endorsed  the 
su^estions  of  your  Committee. 

Further  proofs  of  the  correctness  of  the  views  of  your  Committee 
have  been  furnished  by  the  propipt  settlement,  during  last  month, 
of  the  great  strikes  in  Scotland  by  means  of  voluntary  arbitration. 
The  siu)jeot  of  arbitration  has  already  been  considered  by  the  Cab- 
inet at  Washington,  and  is  now  one  of  the  leading  questions  of 
the  day  in  America.  Your  Committee  desire  that  it  should  be 
remembered  that  they  confined  their  suggestions  to  methods  of 
vclutUartf  arbitration,  an^  that  they  have  never  contemplated  com- 
pAlsory  measures  calculated  to  interfere  with  the  free  development 
of  the  great  principles  of  political  economy  in  relation  to  capital 
and  lal^r.  Society  is  strong  enough  to  demand  that  arbitration 
shall  be  tested  fairly,  and  that  is  what  your  Committee  have  sought 
to  promote.  That  arbitration  may  ultimately  harmonize  the  rela- 
tions between  capital  and  labor  and  thus  prevent  strikes,  with 
their  multiform  and  multitudinous  evils,  is  earnestly  to  be  desired 
by  all  good  citizens. 

THB  ENGLISH  ARBITRATION  SYSTEM. 

Following  the  suggestions  of  your  Committee,  the  subject  of 
arbitration  between  capital  and  labor  has  been  very  extensively 
and  favorably  considered  by  the  American  newspaper  press.  Your 
Committee  would  in  particular  refer  to  an  exhaustive  resume  of 
the  English  system,  which  has  appeared  in  the  Baltimore  Sun. 
Arbitration  was,  it  apoears,  first  advocated  in  England  more  than 
half  a  century  ago,  although  not  very  widely  known  or  adopted 
untU  withm  recent  years.    Provision  for  the  arbitration  of  disputes 


t 


IB 


between  masters  and  workmen,  was  made  in  England  by  statute 
as  early  as  the  reign  of  George  IV.,  and  by  subsequent  statutes 
passed  in  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  the  present  Queen.  Wifh- 
out  repealing  any  of  these  former  laws,  Parliament,  in  1867,  by 
statute  30  and  31  Vict.,  c.  105,  commonly  known  as  "  The  Coun- 
cils of  Conciliation  Act,"  established  the  more  modem  system, 
which  has  since  been  somewhat  amended.  The  "  Councils  of  Con- 
ciliation Act "  provides  that  any  number  of  masters  and  workmen 
belonging  to  the  same  trade  and  residing  in  the  same  town,  etc., 
may,  upon  petition,  and  after  due  publication,  etc.,  obtain  a  license 
from  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Home  Office,  for  the  formation 
of  a  Council  of  Conciliation — the  first  council  to  be  elected  by  the 
petitioners,  and  afterwards  to  be  elected  annually  by  masters  and 
workmen,  who  may  register  and  qualify  as  voters  for  thtt  purpose. 
The  council  consists  of  an  equal  number  of  masters  and  workmen 
— not  less  than  two  nor  more  than  ten  of  each,  besides  a  chairman 
elected  by  the  council.  A  quorum  consists  of  not  less  than  three, 
viz. :  A  master,  a  workman  and  the  chairman.  The  chairman 
must  be  a  person  unconnected  with  the  trade,  and  votes  only  in 
case  of  a  tie.  No  counsel,  solicitors  or  attorneys  are  allowed  to 
attend,  except  by  the  consent  of  both  parties,  and  no  member  of  , 
the  council  can  act  in  any  case  in  which  he  or  any  relation  of  his 
is  plaintiff  or  defendant. 

Provision  is  further  made  for  the  appointment  of  sub-committees, 
called  •Committees  of  Conciliation,  consisting  of  one  master  and 
one  workingman,  whose  business  it  is  to  endeavor  to  reconcile  all 
disputes  and  obviate  the  necessity  of  a  formal  reference  to  the 
council  for  award.  The  council  are  clothed  with  the  usual  powers 
of  arbitrators  in  reference  to  any  matters  submitted  to  them — which 
power  does  not  extend,  however,  to  establishing  a  rate  of  wages  or 
price  of  labor  or  workmanship  at  which  workmen  shall  in  future 
be  paid — and  their  award  is  made  final  and  conclusive  between 
the  parties,  without  being  subject  to  review  by  any  court.  Subse- 
quently, in  1872,  (35  and  36  Vict.,  c.  76,)  Parliament  passed 
another  act,  amendatory  of  the  previous  one,  and  known  as  "  The 
Arbitration  (masters  and  workmen)  Act." 

This  act  provides  that  any  master  and  workman  may  enter  into 
an  agreement,  by  which  they  shall  be  mutually  bound,  to  submit 
to  such  arbitration  as  they  may  designate,  any  questions  which 
may  arise  between  them  during  the  term  of  the  workman's  employ- 
ment. The  agreement  may  provide  that  the  parties,  during  its 
continuance,  shall  be  bound  by  any  rules  contained  in  the  agree- 
ment, or  made  by  the  arbitrators,  as  to  the  rate  of  wages  to  be 
paid,  the  hours  or  quantities  of  work  to  be  performed,  or  the  condi- 
tions or  regulations  under  which  work  is  to  be  done. 

It  will  be  seen  that  there  is  nothing  whatever  of  a  socialistic  or 
communistic  character  in  the  plans  of  arbitration  which  have  been 


16 


so  BUCceBsfnlly  carried  out  in  Great  Britain.  In  recommending 
similar  methods  of  averting  strikes  in  the  United  States,  your 
Committee  feel  that  they  have  initiated  what  is  bound  to  become 
a  great  moral  and  social  reform. 

MOBB  INTBRNATIOIIAL  AMENITIES. 

The  visit  to  the  United  States  of  the  British  Rifle  Team,  under 
th'e  leadership  of  Sir  Henry  Halford,  for  friendly  competition  with 
American  rinemen,  has  already  done  great  good.  At  Bridgeport, 
on  Augns*  30th,  the  St.  George's  Society  took  a  prominent  part  in 
welcoming  Sir  Henry  and  his  comrades.  On  that  occasion,  Mr. 
Wm.  Tomlin,  as  President  of  the  Bridgeport  St.  George's  Society, 
said: 

"On  behalf  of  the  St.  George's  Society  of  Bridgeport,  Connecti- 
cut, we  beg  to  assure  you  of  the  great  pleasure  with  which  we 
greet  your  presence  among  us.  We  cannot  but  feel  that  your  visit 
to  this  country  to  take  part  in  a  peaceful  trial  of  skill,  is  likely  to 
do  much  to  increase  the  good  feeling  which  happily  now  exists  be- 
tween England  and  America,  and  which  a  common  language,  kin- 
dred and  descent  ought  to  render  permanent." 

Your  Committee  feel  assured  that  the  St.  George's  Societies 
throughout  the  United  States  will  fully  endorse  these  sentiments. 

COKCLUSION. 

In  conclusion,  your  Committee  believe  that  if  the  recommenda- 
tions embodied  in  this  report  are  carried  out  by  the  Convention, 
the  North  America  St.  George's  Union,  already  a  successful  and 
useful  institution,  has  a 'great  and  prosperous  future  before  it. 

Respectfully  submitted  by  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
North  America  St.  George's  Union. 

Lewis  Thompsok.  President. 

J.  A.  H.  St.  AyoBEW,  First  Vice-President. 

Daniel  Batchelor,  Treasurer. 

William  Underdown,  \  „     ^    • 

William  Tomlin,        J  Secretaries. 

On  motion.  Resolved  that  the  thanks  of  the  Convention  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Coho3s  Society  for  the  presentation  of  seal. 

On  motion.  Resolved  that  the  financial  statement  of  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Union  be  received  at  the  evening  session. 

The  Convention  uere  took  a  recess  of  one  hour,  to  visit  the 
Masonic  Temple. 

On  reassembling,  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Creden- 
tials reported  the  credentials  of  the  delegates  in  attendance,  cor- 
rect. 


17 


LIST  OF  DELEGATES. 

St.  George's  Society,  Albany,  N.  Y. — Marshall   Tebbutt,  J. 
Pennie,  Jr.,  Thomas  Mayes. 

St.  George's  Society,  Auburn,  N.  Y. — G.  J.  Bunting,  G.  F. 
Hague. 

St.  George's  Society,  Bridgeport,  Conn. — W.  Tomlin,  G.  W. 
Longstaff,  J.  H.  Eyre,  G.  Kingston. 

St.  Ge^ge's  Society,  Brantford,  Ont. — G.  Lindley. 

St.  George's  Society,  Cohoes,  N.  Y. — Gapt.  0.  Sault. 

British  Society,  Farmville,  Va. — J.  A.  H.  St.  Andrew. 

St.  George's  Society,  Guelph,  Ont. — C.  Chase. 

St.  George's  Society,  Hamilton,  Ont. — A.  Green,  C.  E.  Peirce. 

St.  George's  Society,  Norfolk,  Va. — Col.  I.  S.  Pagaud. 

St.  George's  Society,  Oswego,  N.  Y. — .T.  Phillips,  J.  Neill. 

Sons  of  St.  George,  Philadelphia,  Pa. — L.  Thompson,  Wm. 
Massey,  Rev.  Dr.  Suddards,  J.  H.  Pilley,  Wm.  Waterall,  H. 
Nelms,  Wm.  Underdowi.,  J.  Smith,  S.  C.  Collis,  W.  King,  W. 
F.  Wilkins,  T.  P.  Rhodes,  J.  B.  Willian,  H.  Jones,,  J.  N.  Willian, 
W.  H.  and  John  Lucas,  John,  Samuel  and  Joseph  Lees. 

St.  George's  Society,  Toronto,  Ont. — C.  Riley,  S.  Trees,  J.  E. 
Pell. 

St.  George's  Society,  Utica,  N.  Y.— D.  Batchelor,  I.  Whiffen. 

British  Association,  Virginia. — W.  Hunter,  F.  U.  Price,  W.  1). 
Rice,  Thomas  Knock,  Col.  W.  Townes,  Jr. 

St.  George's  Society,  Waterloo,  N.  Y.— Rev.  W.  D'Oi-ville 
Doty. 

And  as  a  guest  of  the  Convention,  Mr.  Thomas  Coiuu>lly,  of 
London,  England. 

SYNOPSIS   OF  BIKTHPLACE   OF   DELEGATES   PRESENT. 

London,  Middlesex,  7 ;  Lancashire,  1 1 ;  Staffordshire,  6 ;  York- 
shire, 4 ;  Glostershire,  3  ;  Derbyshire,  3  ;  Norfolk,  3 ;  Hampsliire, 
2 ;  Kent,  2 ;  Leicestershire,  2 ;  Wiltshire,  1  j  Surrey,  1 ;  Hertford- 
shire, 1 ;  Westmoreland,  1 ;  Suffolk,  1 ;  and  Bedfordshire,  1. 

Sixteen  counties  represented. 

The  draft  of  the  new  constitution  was  then  taken  up ;  after  some 
discuseion,  it  was,  on  motion,  referred  to  a  committee  composed  of 
one  delegate  from  each  society  represented. 

2         ■  , 


18 

The  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  on  said  committee  : 

Auburn,  N.  Y.,  G.  J.  Bunting. 

Albany,  N.  Y.,  Marshall  Tebbutt. 

Cohoes,  N.  Y.,  Capt.  C.  Sault. 

Brantford,  Ont.,  G.  Lindley. 

Bridgeport,  Conn.,  G.  W.  Longstaff.  * 

British  Association  of  Virginia,  F.  R.  Price. 

Farmville,  Va.,  J.  A.  H.  St.  Andrew. 

Guelph,  Ont.,  C.  Chase. 

Hamilton,  Ont.,  C.  E.  Peirce. 

Oswego,  N.  Y.,  J.  Phillips. 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Wni.  Waterall. 

Toronto,  Ont.,  J.  E.  Pell. 

Utica,  N.  Y.,  I.  Whiffen. 

Waterloo,  N.  Y.,  Rev.  W.  D'Orville  Doty. 

Mr.  D.  Batchelor,  of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  then  read  a  paper  on  the 
"  General  Objects  of  the  Union,"  and  a  vote  of  thanks  was  cordial- 
ly tendered  h[m. 

Invitations  were  read  from  the  Permanent  Exhibition  Company, 
the  Presidents  of  both  railways  leading  to  Atlantic  City,  the 
Philadelphia  and  Reading  Railway,  to  visit  their  coal-yards;  Pres- 
ident and  Board  of  Directors  of  Academy  of  Fine  Arts,  Northern 
Home  for  Friendless  Children,  Reform  Club,  and  Mr.  Joseph 
Smith,  to  visit  his  residence  on  the  Wissahickon,  and  partake  of 
an  old-fashioned  English  lunch. 

A  recess  was  taken  till  3:30 1-.  M. 


AFTEBKOOK  SESSION. 

On  reassembling,  the  Vice-President,  Mr.  J.  A.  H.  St.  Andrew, 
in  the  chair,  Mr.  Wm.  Underdown  read  a  paper  on  the  "  Society 
of  the  Sons  of  St.  George  of  Philadelphia,  its  Usefulness  and 
Success." 

On  motion,  the  thank  p  of  the  Co;ivention  were  tendered  Mr. 
Underdown  for  his  interesting  paper. 

Brief  addresses,  reviewing  the  charitable  works  of  various  socie- 
ties, were  made  by  Messrs.  Peirce,  Tebbutts,  Batchelor,  Longstaff, 
and  Thomas  Connolly,  of  London,  Englaad. 

The  Convention  then  adjourned  till  7:30  P.  m. 


19 


rf.  '    ^ 


EVENING    SESSION. 

The  Convention  assembled  as  per  adjournment,  the  President  in 
the  chair. 

On  badges  of  membership,  Mr.  Tonilin  reported  the  procuring 
of  them  awaits  the  action  of  local  societies. 

On  motion,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  record  the  satisfaction 
of  the  Union  at  the  entire  success  of  the  Virginian  Celebration ; 
Messrs.  Collis,  Tomlin  and  Wilkins  were  appointed  by  the  chair. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Constitution  being  in  order,  the 
Chairman,  Mr.  Waterall,  presented  the  draft,  which  had  been 
unanimously  passed  by  the  Committee. 

On  motion,  the  first,  second,  third,  fourth,  fifth,  sixth,  seventh 
and  eighth  articles  were  severally  and  unanimously  adopted  as 
read.  The  ninth  and  tenth  articles — amended  to  read  "  the  Exec> 
utive  Committee "  in  place  of  "  the  Union  " — were  also  severally 
and  unanimously  adopted.  On  motion,  the  eleventh  article  was 
adopted  and  was  ordered  to  be  placed  as  article  second  in  the  Con- 
stitution, the  other  articles  following  in  regular  order. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Daniel  Batchelor,  this  Constitution  as  a  whole, 
was  unanimously  adopted. 

On  motion,  the  thanks  of  the  Convention  wore  tendered  tt)  the 
Committee  for  the  report. 

The  following  is  the  ^ 

CONSTITUTION  AS  AMENDED. 

Article  1.  The  name  of  this  association  shall  be  the  ''North 
America  St.  George's  Union." 

Art.  2.  It  is  hereby  declared  that  the  objects  of  this  Union  are 
open  and  undisguised,  and  such  as  are  entitled  to  the  sympathy  of 
all  good  citizens  of  Canada  (ind  the  United  States,  the  purposes  of 
the  organization  being  solely  to  promote  social  intercourse,  benev- 
olence and  mutual  assistance  among  the  membei's  of  the  affiliated 
societies;  to  encourage  the  formation  of  new  St.  George's  Societies, 
and  for  the  advancement  of  friendship  and  amity  between  the 
English  speaking  nations. 

Art.  3.  Its  meetings  shall  be  annual,  the  election  of  its  officers 
annual,  and  each  meeting  shall  designate  the  next  place  of  assem- 
blage. 

Art.  4.  Each  annual  meeting  hereafter,  shall  be  composed  of 
delegates  from  such  St.  George's  Societies  in  the  United  States 
and  British  America  as  may  choose  to  affiliate  with  the  Union, 


io 


and  delegates  from  such  other  British  organizations  as  may  be 
admitted  to  affiliation  with  the  Union  by  the  vote  of  a  Convention. 
Art.  a.  Each  affiliating  w>ciety  shall  be  entitled  to  send  not 
more  than  three  (3)  delegates  to  the  annual  Conventions  of  the 
Union,  and  said  delegates  shall  bring  with  them  letters  credential 
from  their  respective  societies. 

Art.  6.  The  Executive  Committee  shall  consist  of  .the  Presi- 
dent, First  Vice-President,  Treasurer,  General  Secretary,  Corres- 
ponding Secretary  and  two  other  members,  any  three  of  whom 
shall  form  a  quorum ;  and  the  Presidents  of  the  affiliating  societies 
shall  be  ex-officio  Vice-Presidents  of  the  Union. 

Art.  7.  A  Chaplain  to  the  Union  shall  be  elected  at  each 
annual  Convention. 

Art.  8.  The  Union  shall  be  governed  by  the  usually  recogniz- 
ed parliamentary  rules  and  by  the  Constitution  now  adopted. 

Art.  9.  Each  society  affiliating  with  the  Union  shall  subscribe 
annually  to  the  funds,  to  cover  the  expenses  of  the  Union. 

Art.  10.  The  Executive  Committee  of  the  Union  shall  furnish 
to  any  number  of  respectable  Englishmen  who  may  so  desire,  the 
necessary  information  for  the  formation  and  working  of  St.  George's 
Societies. 

Art.  11.  The  Executive  Committee  of  the  Union  shall  publish 
and  furnish  to  each  affiliated  society  an  annual  report  of  the  pro- 
ceedings at  each  Convention,  a  full  report  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee during  the  year,  and  also  a  list  of  the  various  affiliated 
societies,  giving  the  location  of  them  and  the  names  and  addresses 
of  the  President  and  Secretary  of  each. 

On  motion,  the  thanks  of  the  Convention  were  tendered  to  the 
Grand  Tyler  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  for  his  kindness  in  conduct- 
ing this  Convention  through  the  Masonic  Temple,  and  the  Corres- 
ponding Secretary  was  ordered  to  notify  him  of  the  same. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  also  ordered  to  Professor  Allen,  for  con- 
ducting the  members  of  tt '  Convention  through  Girard  College. 

Mr.  S.  C.  Collis  read  a  paper  bearing  on  the  usefulness  and 
objects  of  the  various  St.  George's  Societies,  in  their  sentimental, 
charitable  and  practical  aspects. 

The  report  of  the  Executive  Committee  and  Treasurer,  for  the 
past  year,  was  then  read  by  the  Treasurer,  and  the  report  was,  on 
motion,  accepted. 


21 


REPORT  OP  EXECUTIVE  COMMirTEE  AND  TREASURER. 


BALANCE   SHEET. 


Dr. 
1S77. 
Jan.    1.  Postage  and  stationery, 
Feb.  25.         "        "  " 

"        Printing  report, 
"  "       Vtadges, 

Aug.  1.  Envelopes, 

"        Circulars,    - 
Sept.       Bridgeport  Printing  Co., 
"  J.  B.  Ege,  printing, 

"  Postage  stamps, 

<*  Cut  of  seal, 


Ck. 


1876. 
Sept.  6.  Balance  on  hand, 

1877. 
Sept.       Traveling  cards. 
Balance  due. 


The  following  subscriptions  were  received ; 
Albany,  N.  Y.,    - 
Auburn,  N.  Y.,  -  - 

Bridgeport,  Conn.,  ... 

Brantford,  Ont., 

British  Association  of  Virginia,   - 
Cohoes,  N.  Y.,  -  -  -  ■ 

Farmville  British  Society, 
Hamilton,  Ont.,        .  .  .  . 

Oswego,  N.  Y.,   -  -  -     ^      - 

Philadelphia,  .  .  .  . 

Toronto,  Ont.,     -  -  -  - 

Utica,  N.  Y., 


$  1 

87 

2 

25 

25 

00 

2 

00 

1 

10 

2 

00 

22 

00 

16 

76 

2 

75 

20 

05 

S95  77 

$  6  25 


1 

00 

88 

52 

$95  77 

$10  00 

5 

00 

5 

00 

5 

00 

5 

00 

5 

00 

5 

00 

5 

00 

5 

00 

20 

00 

5 

00 

5 

00 

5  00 
5  00 
5  00 
2  00 

397  00 
88  52 

38  48 

Waterloo,  N.  Y,, 
Ottawa,  Ont.,  Treas., 
Oaelpb,  Ont.,     " 
London,  Ont.,  Treas., 


Amonnt  dne  Treasnrer,  - 

Balance  in  hand,    .  •  •  • 

The  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mr.  W.  Tomlin,  then  read  letters 
from  the  President  of  the  United  States,  the  British  Charged  d*Af 
£ures,  the  Governors  of  South  Carolina  and  Virginia,  Secretary  of 
the  British  Rifle  Team  and  others. 

On  motion,  Resolved  that  Mr.  Wm.  Tomlin  be  requested  to 
prepare  and  publish  a  full  report  of  this  Convention,  with  the 
various  papers  read  to  the  Convention. 

On  motion.  Resolved  that  the  Convention  proceed  to 'select  the 
next  place  of  meeting,  invitations  being  received  from  the  St. 
(George's  Societies  of  Brantford  and  Guelph,  Canada.  The  claims 
of  the  two  conflicting,  the  Canadian  delegation  were  excused  for 
deliberation,  and  finally  reported  in  favor  of  Guelph.  On  motion, 
the  invitation  of  the  St.  George's  Society  of  Guelph  was  accepted. 
The  Canadian  delegation  was,  on  motion  of  the  Convention,  em- 
powered to  nominate  a  President  for  the  ensuing  year.  Mr.  Peirce 
accordingly  nominated  Mr.  Roach,  of  Hamilton,  who  was  then 
duly  elected.  Convention  adjourned  till  Thursday  morning,  9 
o'clock. 


4 


98 


SECOND    DAYS    PROCEEDINGS. 


Thnnday;  September  18th. 


A 


The  Convention  assembled  at  10  o'clock  a.  m. 

The  President,  Hon.  Lewis  Thompson,  occupied  the  chair,  and 
the  meeting  was  opened  with  prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Suddards. 

Mr.  W.  Tomlin,  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  read  an  interesting  paper 
on  the  "  Importance  of  establishing  homes  for  impoverished  mem- 
bers of  the  St.  George's  Societies,  and  Asylums  for  children  of 
English  parents,  left  orphans  in  this  country." 

On  motion,  the  thanks  of  the  Convention  were  tendered  to  Mr. 
Tomlin  for  his  able  paper,  which  was  ordered  to  be  printed  in  the 
journal.. 

On  motion,  the.  subject  of  the  above  paper  was  laid  over  for 
consideration  at  next  Convention. 

On  motion,  the  election  for  officers  for  the  ensuing  year  was  now 
ordered. 

On  motion,  one  member  of  each  delegation  was  appointed  a 
Nominating  Committee. 

The  Committee  brought  in  the  following  nominees,  who  were 
duly  elected : 

President — George  Roach,  of  HamiltcMi,  Canada. 

First  Vice-P/esident — Samuel  Lees,   >f  Pliiladelphia. 

Treasurer — Daniel  Batchelor,  of  Utica,  N,  Y. 

Corresponding  Secretary — William  Tomlin,  of  Bridgeport  Conn. 

General  Secretary — C.  E.  Peirce,  of  Hamilton,  Cnmida. 

Chaplain— Hex.  W.  D'Orville  Doty,  of  Waterloo,  N.  Y. 

Executive  Committee — The  above  officers  and  J.  E.  Pell,  of  To- 
ronto, and  C.  Chase,  of  Guelph,  Ontario. 

Thanks  were  tendered  by  the  newly  elected  officers  for  the  hon- 
or conferred  upon  them. 

On  motion,  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  was  given  to  the  retiring 
President  and  Executive  Committee. 


24 


On  motion,  a  unanimous  vote  of  tlu',nks  ^as  given  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Philadelphia  press,  for  the  able  manner  in  which  they 
have  reported  the  proceedings  of  this  Convention. 

Dr.  Jaraieson,  late  of  Virginia,  was  introduced  to  the  Conven- 
tion by  Mr.  St.  Andrew. 

On  motion,  the  last  Tuesday  in  August,  1878,  was  appointed 
for  the  meeting  of  the  next  Convention,  at  Guelph,  Ontario. 

Mr.  St.  Andrew  presented  the  following  resolution  : 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Virginian  Delegation,  held  this  13th  day  of 
September,  1877,  Mr.  J.  A.  H.  St.  Andrew  in  the  chair,  it  was 
moved  by  Mr.  F.  R.  Price,  seconded  by  Colonel  W.  Townes,  Jr., 
supported  by  Mr.  W.  Hunter,  and  was  unanimously 

Besdved,  That  the  wannest  thanks  of  this  delegation  be  present- 
ed to  the  President,  Secretary  and  members  of  the  Society  of  the 
Sons  of  St.  George  of  Philadelphia,  for  their  generous  and  warm- 
hearted hospitality  to  the  members  of  the  Virginian  Delegation,  in 
common  with  the  other  delegates  to  the  Convention. 

J.  A.  H.  St.  Andrew,  Chairman. 

The  following  resolution  was  presented  by  Mr.  Tomlin : 
The  delegates  of  the  North  America  St.  George's  Union  in 
Convention  assembled,  beg  to  extend  their  congratulations  to  the 
British  Association  of  Virginia  and  the  St.  George's  Societies  of 
the  United  States  and  Canada,  at  the  immense  success  attending 
the  International  Celebration  of  Queen  Victoria's  Birthday,  last 
May ;  also,  to  express  their  thanks  to  the  individual  members  of 
the  Association  and  to  the  citizens  of  Petersburg,  for  the  unbound- 
ed hospitality  extended  to  the  committee  appointed  at  the  last 
Convention  in  Hamilton,  to  cooperate  with  the  Association,  and 
other  members  of  St.  George's  Societies  who  were  present  on  that 
occasion. 

W.  Tomlin,  Chairman. 
On  motion,  the  Convention  adjourned  to  9  o'clock  a.  m.,  on 
Friday,  the  14th. 


25 


FINAL   SESSION. 


Friday,  September  14th,  1877. 


The  Convention  assembled  at  9  o'clock  A.  M.,  Vice-President 
J.  A.  H.  St.  Andrew  in  the  chair. 

The  minutes  of  Convention  were  read  and  approved. 

The  President  having  arrived,  he  was  loudly  cheered  on  taking 
the  chair. 

The  following  resolutions  were  offered  and  unanimously  adopted : 

Resolved,  First,  that  the  design  of  the  common  seal  s>f  the  North 
Aujerica  St.  George's  Union  be  adopted  as  the  permanent  badge 
of  membership  of  the  Union. 

Second,  that  the  various  affiliated  societies  be  authorized  to  pro- 
cure badges  of  membership  ofi  such  material  as  they  may  deem  fit. 

Resolved,  That  the  Britisn  Association  of  Virginia  and  the  Farm- 
ville  British  Society  be  admitted  to  permanent  affiliation  with  the 
Union,  in  accordance  with  the  Constitution. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  presented  to  John  Lucas,  Esq.,  for  his 
kind  invitation  to  the  delegates  to  visit  Atlantic  City ;  also,  for 
his  generous  gift  of  grapes  and  wine. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  also  given  to  the  Secretaries,  Messrs. 
Peirce,  Collis,  Doty  and  Trees,  for  the  able  and  efficient  manner 
in  which  they  had  attended  to  their  duties. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  also  passed  to  the  Sergeant-at-Arms,  Mr. 
A.  Green,  and  Deputy,  Mr.  Wilkins,  and  Mr.  Muff,  janitor  of  thfe 
hall,  for  services  rendered. 

On  motion,  the  thanks  of  the  delegates  from  abroad  were  tender- 
ed to  their  kind  hosts  and  hostesses  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

On  motion,  the  Convention  adjourned  sine  die. 

Attest:  S.  C.  Collis, 

C.  E.  Peirce, 


S.  Trees. 


Secretaries. 


Rev.  Wm.  D'Orville  Doty, 


86 


THE  GRAND    BANQUET. 


St.  George's  Hall,  Thnnday,  September  18th,  1877. 


A  little  after  6  o'clock  p.  m.,  the  delegates  to  the  Convention 
and  a  number  of  invited  guests  assembled  in  the  committee  rooms, 
and  were  soon  after  conducted  to  the  magnificent  hall,  which  bore 
a  very  imposing  aspect ;  the  beautifully  arranged  tables,  laden 
with  the  good  things  of  this  life,  and  lavishly  decorated  with 
flowers ;  the  display  of  bunting  surrounding  the  beautiful  centen- 
nial banner  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George ;  and  the  artistic  life-size 
picture  of  Her  Most  Gracious  Majesty  Queen  Victoria,  flanked  on 
either  side  with  the  silken  banners  of  America  and  Old  England, 
formed  a  tout  ensemble  not  easily  *to  be  forgotten.  Three  long 
tables  extended  nearly  the  length  of  the  noble  room.  There  was 
also  a  table  extending  across,  at  which  was  seated  Hon.  Lewis 
Thompson,  the  presiding  officer,  on  his  right  being  General  Pat- 
terson and  on  his  left,  John  Lucas,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Camden 
and  Atlantic  Railroad.  There  were  also  seated  at  this  table  sev- 
eral Presidents  of  the  St.  George's  Societies  represented  at  the 
Convention.  In  the  centre  of  this  table,  was  a  beautiful  represen- 
tation of  a  ship,  in  flowers,  the  Union  Jack  and  the  Stars  and 
Stripes  flying  from  her  masts.  There  were  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  persons  seated  at  the  tables,  and  the  divine  blessing  was  in- 
voked by  Rev.  Dr.  Suddards. 

After  those  assembled  had  partaken  of  the  recherche  viands,  the 
following  toasts  were  drank : 

"The  Queen,"  followed  by  singing  "God  Save  the  Queen." 

"The  President  of  the  United  States,"  followed  by  ringing 
"  The  Star  Spangled  Banner." 

"  The  Governor-General  of  Canada." 

Responded  to  by  S.  Trees,  Esq.,  President  of  the  St.  George's 
Society  of  Toronto,  Ontario,  who  said  Lord  Dufferin,  though  not 


27 


a  son  of  St.  George,  is  a  witty,  eluqiiont  and  popular  gentleman, 
who  most  worthily  represents  Her  Majesty  in  Canada.  He  is  a 
Governor-General  of  whom  we  are  justly  proud ;  who  fully  enters 
into  the  wants  and  wishes  of  the  people,  and  also  by  personal 
observation,  is  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  resources  and  re- 
quirements of  this  vast  Dominion,  sympathizing  with  the  humblest 
and  least  lovely  of  them.  Last  year,  we  found  him  on  the  slopes 
of  Bintish  Columbia  and  Vancouver's  Island ;  this  year,  we  find 
him  in  Manitoba,  sailing  over  its  vast  lakes  and  traversing  its 
prairies,  so  that  on  his  return  to  the  capital,  he  can  better  legis- 
late. I  am  uttering  the  sentiment  of  every  true  Canadian  when  I 
wish  his  reappointment  as  Governor-General,  and  that  His  Excel- 
lency may  enjoy  prosperity,  happiness  and  length  of  days. 

"  England,  the  land  of  our  birth-,  the  pioneer  of  civilization,  the 
bulwark  of  civil  and  religious  liberty." 

Responded  to.  by  Mr.  G.  W.  LongstafF,  First  Vice-President  of 
the  St.  George's  Society  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  as  follows : 

Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen: 

I  feel  proud  of  the  honor  which  the  committee  has  conferred 
upon  the  Bridgeport  delegation  by  selecting  me  to  respond  to  the 
toast  of  "  England,"  the  land  where  our  heart's  affections  are  cen- 
tred, the  land  where  our  fathers  lived  and  died.  What  tender 
memories  crowd  upon  us  as  we  think  of  her  busy  cities,  her  peace- 
ful valleys,  t|,nd  in  imagination,  listen  to  the  music  of  her  rippling 
streams.  How  our  hearts  swell  and  exult  when  we  remember  that 
out  of  that  little  island  springs  a  power  and  an  influence  that,  like 
the  vast  horizon,  encircles  the  world,  and  everywhere  it  is  felt  to 
be  a  power  for  good,  a  power  to  forward  civilization,  to  free  the 
oppressed,  to  help  the  needy  and  suffering,  and,  above  all,  a 
power  that  has  planted  the  standard  of  religious  liberty  and  tolera- 
tion on  almost  every  soil ;  and  she  receives  for  these  things  not 
onh'  the  homage  and  loyalty  of  her  sons,  but  also  the  respect  and 
admiration  of  the  nations.  What  a  glorious  record  have  we  as 
Englishmen  to  look  back  upon  when  reviewing  the  history  of  our 
nation  !  How  the  pages  teem  with  gr^at  events  and  greater  men ! 
And  as  the  mind's  eye  glances  back  through  the  rolling  centuries, 
we  are  dazzled  and  awe  struck  by  the  glittering  phalanx,  and  to- 
day, our  nation  stands,  as  she  ever  has  done,  first,  in  all  that 
pertains  to  the  social,  political  and  religious  welfare  of  the  world. 
At  times,  her  sky  has  been  obscured  by  passing  clouds.  There 
are  some  blots  on  her  escutcheon,  and  her  fair  fields  have  been  the 
scene  of  many  a  bitter  and  deadly  conflict  for  the  ri^ht,  but  always 
out  of  the  obscurity  she  has  emerged,  brighter  and  better  and  with 


28 


renewed  energy,  and  while  we  recognize  with  all  due  humility  her 
many  mistakeH,  yet  we  would  with  Cowper,  our  sweet  poet,  exult- 
ingly  cry :  "  England,  with  all  thy  faults,  we  love  thee  still,  our 
country ;  and  while  yet  a  nook  is  left  where  English  minds  and 
manners  may  be  found,  shall  be  constrained  to  love  thee." 

Mr.  W.  Tomlin  then  sang  with  patriotic  fervor,  the  song  of 
"  England." 

"  The  United  States,  the  land  of  our  adoption,  cosmopolitan  in 
character :  may  her  moral  forces  be  conuuensurato  with  the  devel- 
opment of  her  boundless  material  resomces." 

Responded  to  by  Mr.  Wm.  Waterall,  Vice-President  of  the  Sons 
of  St.  George,  Philadelphia,  who  said  he  trusted  his  heart  was 
large  enough  to  take  in  his  mother  country  and  his  adopted  coun- 
try.   The  best  part  of  his  life  had  been  spent  in  the  United  States, 
and  his  children  w  jre  bom  here.    There  is  an  underlying  thought 
in  the  toast,  and  they  hope  to  have  a  country  equal  to  the  mother 
country.    He  wished  the  Yankees  would  invent  some  machine  to 
tow  over  here  the  little  island  of  England.    It  might  have  been 
asked  twenty  years  ago.  Who  uses  American  tools  and  reads 
American  books?    Now,  the  question  may  be  asked,  Who  does 
not  read  American  books  and  use  American  tools  ?    As  the  two 
flags  are  the  symbols  of  power  and  strength,  may  the  two  coun-  • 
tries  ever  stand  together  as  the  defenders  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty,  and  of  the  rights  of  man.  * 

Mr.  G.  Lindley  of  Brantford,  Ontario,  recited  "John  Bull's  Ad- 
dress to  Jonathan." 
"  Her  Majesty's  Representatives." 

Responded  to  by  General  Patterson,  who  said  we  could  never 
pay  Great  Britain  the  debt  we  owe  her.  Not  only  did  Great  Brit- 
ain send  a  magnificent  contribution  to  the  Centennial  Exposition, 
but  such  wajB  also  the  case  with  her  colonies.  He  thanked  God 
that  Philadelphia  alone,  with  Great  Britain,  Canada  and  Australia, 
made  a  fine  display  at  the  Exhibition. 

The  song,  "John  Anderson,  my  Joe,"  was  so  effectively  render- 
ed by  Mr.  Bishop  that  a  repetition  was  demanded. 

"  The  City  of  Philadelphia,  great  in  her  manufactories,  blest  in 
her  homes,  noble  in  her  charities." 

Responded  to  by  MacGregor  J.  Mitcheson,  Esq.,  who  deemed  it 
a  great  privUege  to  be  able  to  join  in  the  festive  concluBion  of  a 


yo 


convention  of  Englishmen  whose  watchword  is  benevolence,  and 
whose  philanthropic  results  cannot  be  computed  in  poundb,  shil- 
lings and  pence.  We  have  in  our  city  some  eight  thousand  manu- 
facturing establishments,  vastly  more  departments  of  industry  than 
any  city  in  the  world  can  produce.  These  manufactories  represent 
a  capital  of  over  $500,000,000.  Philadelphia  has,  too,  institutions 
unlimited  in  extent. 

"  The  armies  and  navies  of  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States : 
may  they  ever  be  united  in  defense  of  liberty  and  the  rights  of 
mankind." 

Responded  to  by  General  Patterson,  who  trusted  in  God  they 
would  never  be  arrayed  against  one  another. 

Mr.  G.  W.  Longstaff,  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  recited  Tennyson's 
"  Charge  of  the  Light  Brigade,"  with  thrilling  effect. 
"  The  St.  George's  Union." 

Responded  to  by  Hon.  D.  Batchelor,  of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  Treasurer 
to  the  North  America  St.  George's  Union.     Mr.  Batchelor  spoke 
rapidly  of  the  objects  of  the  Union  and  of  the  incentive  which  had 
brought  the   convention   together.     Alluding  to   the  glory   and 
grandeur  of  England,  he  said  that  her  sons  and  descendants  ought 
to  be  proud  of  her  mighty  achievements,  and  that  every  true  Brit- 
on, at  the  mere  mention  of  the  names  that  shine  on  her  historic 
scrolls,  must  feel  a  glow  of  manly  pride.    The  speaker  said  that 
no  man  who  was  not  proud  of  the  fame  of  England,  had  a  right  to 
belong  to  the  St.  George's  Union.     For  himself,  when  he  heard  or 
read  the  name  of  any  illustrious  Briton,  who,  by  word  or  deed,  had 
adorned  the  history  of  his  native  land,  he  was  thrilled  through  and 
through.     It  had  been  eloquently  said  that  "the  sun  never  sets  on 
Her  Majesty's  dominions;"  that  in  her  garrisons,  "the  morning 
drum-beat  belted  the  globe  with  one  continuous  strain  of  the  mar- 
tial glories  of  England."     So,  too,  was  there  never  a  day  in  the 
calendar  but  was  the  date  of  a  birth,  or  a  deed  done,  which  added 
to  the  renown  of  Old  England.     This  September  month,  from  first 
to  last,  is  full  of  anniversary  days ;  not  the  least  are  the  battle  of 
IViitiers  and  the  birth  of  Lord  Nelson.     The  first  day  of  this  con- 
vention was  the  date  on  which  John  Churchill,  Duke  of  Marlboro, 
won  the  great  battle  of  Malplaquet.     This  very  day,  my  Canadian 
friends,  is  the  anniversary  of  that  victorious  morning, 

"  When  Wolfe  was  olimbine  Abraham's  Heights, 
To  snatch  the  Bourbon  Uues." 


30 


"  Our  Guests,  they  are  welcome." 

Responded  to  by  J.  A.  H.  St.  Andrew,  Esq.,  of  the  Farmville 
Mercury,  Farmville,  Virginia,  who  said  that  those  who  had  come 
from  a  distance,  had  reason  to  say  the  Sons  of  St.  George  had  got 
up  a  magnificent  demonstration.  He  was  glad  so  many  persons 
were  gathered  together  from  the  United  States  and  Canada,  to 
testify  their  love  for  their  native  land. 

Mr.  M.  P.  Neal,  of  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  also  made  some  remarks. 
He  said  that  such  conventions  or  reunions  as  the  present,  he  could 
not  but  think  are  conducive  to  the  general  interest  and  welfare  of 
the  societies  participating  in  such.  The  fertile  territory  of  the 
United  States  stretches  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  and  be- 
neath the  ample  and  starry  folds  of  its  flag,  the  oppressed  of  all 
nations  may  find  a  home. 

Mr.  Tomlin  gave  the  song  of  "  Old  Simon,  the  Cellarer,"  in  his 
peculiar,  inimitable  style. 
The  other  toasts  were  as  follows : 

"  The  Sons  of  St.  George  in  the  United  States  and  Canada, 
and  their  work." 

Responded  to  by  Messrs.  J.  E.  Pell,  of  Toronto,  Ont.,  and  Mar- 
shall Tebbutt,  of  Albany,  N.  Y. 
'f  The  Clergy." 

Responded  to  by  Rev.  Dr.  D.  Otis  Kellogg,  of  Philadelphia. 
"  The  Press,  a  mighty  force  in  our  civilization,  only  to  be  fol- 
lowed when  its  teachings  are  in  harmony  with  the  precepts  of 
Christianity." 

Responded  to  in  a  most  happy  manner  by  Mr.  Thomas  Connol- 
ly, of  the  London  Times,  who,  by  his  witty  remarks,  tinged  with 
satire,  kept  the  guests  in  a  perfect  roar  of  laughter. 

The  last  toast  on  the  programme  was 

"Woman:  man  was  not  satisfied  till  he  had  her;  is  not  alto- 
gether satisfied  with  her,  yet  would  as  soon  think  of  parting  with 
her  as  with  the  sunshine  and  flowers." 

Responded  to  in  a  humorous  strain  by  Messrs.  C.  E.  Peirce  of 
Hamilton,  Ontario,  and  W.  T.  Wilkins,  of  Philadelphia. 


31 


COMMUNICATIONS. 


London,  32  St.  George's  Square,  S.  W.,  \ 
17th  March,  1877.  } 

To  the  St.  George^s  Union: 

Dear  Brethren  : — As  the  yearly  meeting  and  gathering  on 
St.  George's  Day  is  nigh  at  hand,  I  send  a  few  words  of  greeting. 

Of  my  stewardship  as  a  Corresponding  Secretary,  I  can  say  but 
little.  All  my  endeavors  to  get  together  a  meeting  on  St.  George's 
Day  have  met  with  good  wishes,  but  have  come  to  no  good  end  in 
England,  where  St.  George's  Day  is  no  longer  kept  nor  St.  George's 
Gross  unfurled,  unless,  so  tar  as  I  know,  at  the  dinner  of  the  Ver- 
ulam  Club,  in  St.  John's  Gate,  Smithfield,  to  keep  the  birth  and 
death-days  of  Shakspeare. 

At  Smyrna,  in  Asia,  in  the  birthplace  of  Homer,  I  was  happier, 
for  I  there  set  up  a  St.  George's  Guild. 

Nevertheless,  there  is  a  great  ^^wakening  of  true  feeling.  This 
is  seen  in  the  nearer  knitting  of  ties  ^/ith  our  kinsfolk  in  New 
England,  answering  to  their  warmer  feeling;  in  the  growth  of 
more  thorough  English  in  writing  and  speaking;  in  the  better 
teaching,  as  with  you,  of  our  mother-tongue  and  of  its  han  J-book, 
in  the  works  of  Shakspeare  and  in  poems  of  Wm.  Morris,  Tenny- 
son and  others,  grounded  on  our  old  story. 

How  is  the  great  work  to  be  followed  up  here  and  elsewhere  T 
As  you  have  begun  the  work  by  your  Union,  so  you  must  still 
take  the  lead.  As  I  have  before  said,  the  best  way  is  to  rouse  the 
feeling  of  your  friends  in  Liverpool  and  in  other  towns  here,  who 
know  and  have  learned  from  you  what  a  St.  George's  gathering  is. 

Then,  too,  it  looks  as  if  the  time  had  come  for  greater  deeds. 
Why  should  you  not  take  heed  for  keeping  up  and  spreading  our 
tongue  throughout  America?  How  many  there  are  of  our  men 
and  childrei  in  Mexico,  in  Central  America,  in  the  towns  of  Bra- 
zil, of  the  Plata  and  of  the  West  Coast,  for  whom  there  are  not 
English  schools.  For  them,  such  schools  should  be  set  up ;  and 
for  this,  all — whether  brethren  of  the  Union  or  not — should  be 
asked  to  give,  so  as  to  spread  the  work  far  and  wide.  Thus,  uot 
only  would  those  of  our  blood  keep  up  their  English,  but  the 


38 


knowledge  of  a  tongue  so  useful  would  be  more  readily  taken  up 
by  the  natives. 

Tiien  we  could  look  forward  to  a  time  when  St.  George's  Unions 
here,  in  Australia  and  South  Africa  would  do  their  share  for  India 
and  for  Africa. 

In  the  hope  that  your  wisdom  may  raise  a.  harvest  from  these 
seeds,  I  send  you  greeting,  and  am 

Yours  truly, 

Hyde  Clarke. 


> 


Hamilton,  Sept.  6,  1877. 
W.  Tomlin,  Esq.,  Bridgeportf  Conn.: 

Deak  Sir  : — Yours  of  the  4th  ultimo  came  duly  to  hand,  and 
should  have  been  answered  sooner  only  I  have  been  away  from 
home,  and  when  I  retunied,  I  was  so  busy  I  overlooked  it.  Ac- 
cept my  very  best  thanks  for  your  kind  invitation  to  the  Conven- 
tion of  the  N.  A.  St.  George's  Union,  but  as  it  happens  on  the 
same  week  our  Grand  Lodge  of  Masons  meets,  I  will,  I  am  sorry 
to  say,  have  to  forego  the  pleasure  of  seeing  your  happy  face  on 
that — I  have  no  doubt — pleasant  occasion.  With  my  best  wishes 
for  the  success  of  the  Union,  and  that  you  may  have  a  most  enjoy- 
able meeting,  believe  me 

Yours  very  truly, 

David  McLellan, 

President  St,  Andretv's  Society. 


Toronto,  16tb  August,  1877. 
W.  Tomlin,  Bridgeport,  Conn.: 

Dear  Sir  : — On  returning  from  the  seaside,  I  found  your  /avor 
of  the  4th  awaiting  me.  If  I  can  spare  the  time  to  get  av.ay,  I 
shall  only  be  too  happy  to  avail  myself  of  your  very  kind  invita- 
tion. I  have  especially  to  thank  you  for  it  as  being  ext  nded  to 
an  outsit,  but  rest  assured,  although  not  a  member  of  your 
Unim,  yet  as  representing  a  sister  society,  I  sympathize  with  the 
objects  you  have  in  view.  I  shall  be  delighted  to  renew  the  a«- 
quaintance  of  those  kind  friends  I  met  at  Petersburg  in  May,  and 
cement  still  more  the  ties  of  friendship  then  formed.  Thanking 
you  again  for  your  kindness  in  sending  me  an  invitation,  believe 
me  Yours  very  truly, 

W.  Barclay  M'Murrich, 

President  St.  Andrew^s  Society. 


<. 


33 


Syracuse,  Se{»t.  6. 
•     Greet  the  Itrethren, 


Dear  Sir  and  Brother: —    * 
if  not  with  a  holy  kiss,  at  least  a  hearty  shake.     I  regret  exi^eed- 
ingly  my  inability  to  be  with  you. 

God  save  the  Queen,  and  may  He  bless  her,  you,  and  the  rest 
of  the  beloved  brethren. 

Most  fraternally  yours, 

James  Fuller. 


St.  George's  Society,      I 
Ottawa,  April  13,  1877.  ) 
Hon.  D.  Batchehr,  Utica,  N.  Y.: 

Dear  Sir: — Having  had  the  pleasure  of  corresponding  with 
you  before,  I  am  authorized  by  our  society  to  address  yon  with  re- 
gard to  affiliation  with  the  North  America  St.  George's  Union. 
At  our  annual  meeting,  held  on  the  3d  inr.,  the  action  recom- 
mended to  be  taken  in  the  report  of  the  Committee  of  Management 
was  fully  approved,  and  I  have  now  to  ask  the  favor  of  your  sub- 
mitting the  name  of  the  St.  George's  Society  of  the  city  of  Ottawa 
as  a  candidate  for  affiliation  with  the  North  America  St.  George's 
TTnion.  • 

On  my  being  notified  of  the  admission  of  our  Society  into  the 
Union,  the  necessary  fees  will  be  promptly  forwarded.  Believe 
me  to  be,  dear  sir, 

Yours  faithfully, 

William  Mills, 
Treasurer  St.  George's  Socu'ty. 


' 


St.  George's  Society,      I 
Peterboro,  Ont.,  August  27,  1877.  ) 

W.  Tomlin,  Esq.,  Bridgeport,  Conn. : 

Dear  Sir  : — I  am  in  receipt  of  your  circular  of  the  5th  instant. 
I  am  directed  by  the  President  of  our  society  to  inform  you  that  it 
will  not  be  convenient  to  send  a  delegate  to  attend  the  Fifth  An- 
nual Convention,  to  be  held  on  the  11th  proximo,  which  we  regret. 
•  *  •  Hoping  you  may  have  a  pleasant  and  profitable  time  at 
Philadelphia  on  Uie  Uth,  I  am,  dear  sir. 

Yours  fraternally, 

GeOj  E.  Shaw,  Secretary. 

3 


34 


Bellbvillb,  Ont.,  Sept.  5,  1877. 
To  the  Secreiary  qfthe  North  America  St.  George's  Union: 

Dear  Sir:— Your  circular  has  been  placed  before  the  St. 
George's  Society  of  this  towu,  and  after  duly  considering  it,  the 
conclusion  we  have  come  to  is  that  it  is  not  convenient  for  us  to 
send  any  delegates  to  the  Philadelphia  St.  George's  Convention. 

Our  heartiest  wishes  you  will  please  accept,  and  we  trust  you 
will  have  a  great  success  in  all  your  British  undertakings. 

I  remain  yours,  etc., 

Wm.  Alford, 
Secretary  St.  George's  Society,  BeUeville. 


' 


Strathrot,  Ont.,  August  27,  1877. 
Wm.  Tomlin,  Esq.,  Secretary  N.  A.  St.  Georges  Union,  Bridgeport, 
Conn.: 

Dear  Sir  : — I  am  directed  by  the  St.  George's  Society  of  this 
place  to  thank  you  for  your  invitation  to  send  delegates  to  the 
Convention,  to  be  held  at  Philadelphia,  September  1 1th  next.  T 
am  soiTy  that,  on  account  of  the  position  of  the  society  and  dis- 
taace,  we  cannot  send  delegates,  although  we  are  in  accord  with 
the  objects  of  the  Convention.    I  remain, 

Yours  fraternally, 

Charles  Greenawat, 
Secretary  St.  Georges  Society,  Strathroy. 


St.  Catherine's,  Ont.,  Aug.  28,  1877. 
My  Dear  Sir: — Onr  society  had  again  appointed  me  delegate 
to  Philadelphia,  on  11th  proximo,  and  I  fully  expected  to  have 
been  with  you,  but  find  I  am  prevented  by  business  from  leaving 
home. 

It  is  a  severe  disappointment  to  me,  taking  such  interest  in  the 
,  St.  George's  N.  A.  Union  as  I  have,  and  I  feel  it  the  more,  as  I 
was  obliged  to  omit  the  gathering  at  Petersburg. 

God  ^ant  that  the  meeting  at  Philadelphia  may  be  the  means 
of  drawmg  you  all  closer  together.    Believe  me,  dear  sir, 

Yours,  very  fraternally, 

J.  Frbd'k  Saxon, 

«r     m    ..    ^^''^^^  Si' Gao^ff^^s  Society,  St.  Cathenw^s. 
Wm.  Tomhn,  Esq.,  Bndgeport. 


'■%■   "         ■  Executive  Mansion,     ^ 

Washington,  Sept.  3,  1877.  J 
Dear  Sir: — I  am  directed  by  the  President  to  acknowledge 
the  receipt  of  your  kind  favor  of  the  28th  ultimo,  extending  to  him 
an  invitation  "j  be  present  at  a  banquet,  to  be  given  by  the  St. 
George's  Uuloi.  Society  of  North  America,  and  to  say  in  reply 
that  while  bs  cordially  appreciates  the  courtesy,  he  regrets  his  ina- 
bility to  accept,  owing  to  previous  engtigenients. 

Very  truly  yours, 

W.  K.  Rogers,  Secretary. 
Wm.  Tomlin,  Secretary,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 


British  Legation,      > 
Washington,  August  30,  1877.  ] 
Sir: — ^Your  favor  of  the  28th  reached  me  only  this  morning. 
I  beg  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  convey  to  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee of  the  North  America  St.  George's  Union  my  best  thanks  for 
the  invitation  which  they  have  so  kindly  sent  me  for  the  banquet, 
to  be  held  on  the  13th  of  September,  but  which,  unfortunately, 
other  engagements  already  made  for  that  time,  will  prevent  my.' 
availing  myself  of.     I  -have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  .^^' 

Your  obedient  servant, 

F.  W.  Plunkkt. 
W.  Tomlin,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  the  North  America  St.  George's 
Union. 


British  Consulate,  i 
Baltimore,  September  10,  1877.  ) 
Sir  : — I  have  just  received,  upon  my  return  from  my  summer 
vacation,  your  kind  letter  of  the  28th  ultimo,  inviting  me  to  attend 
the  banquet,  to  be  given  in  Philadelphia,  by  the  North  America 
St.  George's  Union.  I  regret  extremely  that  my  engagements 
prevent  me  from  leaving  my  post  at  present. 

Yours  faithfully, 
Dennis  Donohoe,  H.  Mh  Consul. 
W.  Tomlin,  Esq.,  Secretary,  etc.,  etc. 


Garden  City  Hotel,  L.  I.,  \ 
6th  Sept.,  1877.      J 
Dear  Sir  : — I  am  desired  by  Sir  Henry  Halford  and  the  other 
members  of  the  British  Rifle  Team,  to  thank  you  for  your  cordial 


36 

invitation  on  l.el.alf  of  the  St.  George's  Union,  to  the  banquet  of 

the  13th  inst.  ^  ,      .n  x  i.       i 

Unfortunately,  the  International  nfle  match  will  take  place  on 
the  13th  and  14th,  and  the  Hr8t  day's  shooting  will  only  be  over 
about  the  time  that  you  sit  down  to  dinner.  ,,.,.., 

Though  prevented  by  this  cause  from  accepting  the  kind  invita- 
tion of  the  St.  George's  Union,  we  shall  reckon  upon  having  your 
good  wishes  on  that  day,  as  you  will  most  certainly  have  those  of 
the  British  Rifle  Team.     Believe  me,  dear  sir. 

Yours,  very  sincerely, 

0.  L.  Pebt. 


State  of  South  Carolina,  Executive  Chamber,  ) 

Columbia,  Sept.  6,  1877.     ) 

Wm.  T&inlin,  Esq.,  Bridgeport,  Conn.: 

Sir  : — It  would  afiFord  me  great  pleasure  to  attend  the  banquet 
at  St.  George's  Hall,  Philadelphia,  on  the  13th  inst.,  but  prior  en- 
gagements render  it  impossible  for  me  to  accept  your  kind  invita- 
tion. Yours  very  respectfully, 

Wade  Hampton. 


Commonwealth  of  Virginia,  Governor's  Office,  ) 
Richmond,  30th  August,  1877.      ) 

WiUiam  TonUin,  Esq.,  Secretary,  etc.  : 

Sir  : — I  return  you  my  cordial  acknowledgments  for  the  honor 
of  the  invitation  which  you  extend  to  me  on  behalf  of  the  North 
America  St.  George's  Union  of  Philadelphia.  ' 

My  public  duties  here  will  deny  me  the  privilege  and  pleasure 
of  attending  the  banquet,  to  be  given  at  St.  George's  Hall,  on  the 
13th  proximo,  but  I  send  through  you  my  hearty  good  wishes  for 
the  prosperity  of  the  noble  association  then  to  be  assembled. 
Very  respectfully,  your  most  obedient  sefvant, 

James  L.  Kemper. 


ul 
N 
in 


81 

CI 

ir 
I 


J 

f 


Hartford,  Conn.,  Sept.  1,  1877. 
Dear  Sir  : — I  am  very  grateful  for  the  compliment  of  an  invi- 
tation to  the  banquet  of  the  North  America  St.  George's  Union,  at 
Philadelphia,  on  the  evening  of  September  13th,  and  decline  with 
regret.  Engagements  and  duties  elsewhere  forbid  my  attendance. 
Again  thanking  you. 

Respectfully  yours, 

Jos.  R.  Hawlst. 
Wm.  Tomlin,  Esq.,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 


87 


Utica,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  1,  1877. 

Mt  Dear  Sir  : — I  am  in  receipt  oT  your  letter  of  the  28th 
ultimo,  inviting  me  to  attend  tlie  banquet,  to  be  given  by  the 
North  America  St.  George's  Union,  at  Pliiladelphia,  on  the  13th 
instant. 

It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  be  present,  but  it  is  not  pos- 
sible to  conmiand  the  time  to  do  so,  owing  to  a  multiplicity  of  oc- 
cupations resulting  from  absence  from  home  for  weeks. 

I  beg  you  to  express  my  thanks  to  the  association  for  their  kind 
invitation,  and  to  assure  its  members  of  the  reluctance  with  which 
I  deny  myself  the  pleasure  they  propose. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

ROSCOE   CONKLINO. 


FROM   EX-PRESIDENT   GEORGE   J.   BRTAN. 

Buffalo,  Sept.  8,  1877. 
Daniel  Batchelor,  Esq.: 

Dear  Friend  : — Although  my  heart  will  be  witli  you  in  the 
forthcoming  Convention,  at  the  "City  of  Brotherly  Love,"  yet 
affairs  beyond  my  control  will  render  it  impossible  for  me  to  be 
present  and  participate  in  the  proceedings  of  an  organization  which 
commands  my  highest  regard.  But  I  cannot  forbear  expressing  to 
you.  and  by  you-  I  hope,  to  the  convention,  my  heartfelt  wishes 
for  the  continued  prosperity  of  the  benevolent  sons  of  St.  George, 
not  only  on  this  continent,  but  throughout  the  world.  I  cannot 
doubt  there  will  be  a  brilliant  and  joyous  assemblage  of  Britons 
and  their  descendants,  on  the  occasion  of  our  annual  meeting,  on 
the  13th  inst.,  at  Philadelphia.  Our  cause  is  righteous  and  must 
succeed. 

Fraternally  and  heartily  yours, 

George  J.  Bryan. 


38 


LIST  OF  KNOWN   SOCIETIES 


iS  THB 


UNITED    STATES    AND    CANADA. 


ALL   COMMUNICATIONS   RELATIVE   TO    A   MORE    COMPLETE    AND 

CORRECTED   LIST  MAY  BE  ADDRESSED   TO  W.  TOMLIN, 

CORRESPONDING  SECRETARY. 


TJKriTBIZ)   ST-A-TE3 

PBBBisKirr. 

W.  Lacev, 
J.  Mellor, 


SKOBBTABT. 


•Albany,  N.  Y.,     St.  George's, 

•Auburn,  N.  Y.,     St.  George's, 

Augusta,  Ga.,      St.  George's, 

Atlanta,^Ga.,        St.  George's, 

•Buffiftlo,  N.  Y.,     St.  George's, 

•Bridgeport,  Ot.,    St.  George's, 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Britannia, 

Baltimore,  Md.,    St.  George's, 

Bay  City,  Mich.,  St.  George's, 

•Oohoes,  N.  Y.,     St.  George's, 

•Chicago,  III,        St.  George's, 

•Detroit,  Mich.,     St.  George's, 

Fred'ksburg,  Va.,  St.  George's, 

•Parmville,  Va.,    British  Society, 

Fall  River,  Mass.,  St.  George's, 

Indianapolis,  In.,  St.  George's, 

LittleFalle,N.Y.,St.  George's, 

Memphis,  Tenn.,  St.  George's, 

New  York,  N,  Y.,  St.  George's, 

"        "       «      Albion, 

«       «       «     Anglo-Amerio'n, 


J.  Pennie. 
G.  F.  Hague. 
E.  W.  Peyhes,  T.  Hammond. 


G.  T.  Bryan, 
W.  Tomlin, 

S.  Darrell, 


G.  E.  Gooch, 
Wm.  Haste, 


T.DiokinsonJr. 
G.  Kingston. 


B.  Hodgkin, 


J.  Cowell,       E.  W.  Evans. 

H.  E.  Pellew,  H.  RomiUy. 
T.  S.  Griffith. 
C.  J.  Pritohaid. 


39 


PRUHIDEMT. 


HKOBKTABT. 


A 


New  York,  N.  Y.,  British  Provid't, 
"         "         "      Cockney, 
Newark,  N.  J.,    St.  George's, 
Newburg,  O.,        St.  George's, 

*08wego,  N.  Y.,     St.  George's, 
Onondaga,  N.Y., 
Omaha,  Neb.,        St.  George's, 

•Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Sons  of  St.  Geo., 
"  "     Albion, 

Patterson,  N.  J.,  St.  George's, 
Peoria,  II-.,  St.  George's, 

•Petersburg,  Va.,  British  Assoc'n, 
PortHuron,Mich.,St.  George's, 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  St.  George's, 
St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  St.  George's, 
S'n  Antonio,  Tex.,St.  George's, 
S.  Francisco,  Cal.,  St.  George's, 
Savannah,  Ga.,     St.  George's, 

*Skaneateles,N.Y.,St.  George's, 

*Schenect'dy,N.Y.,St.  George's, 

•Syracuse,  N.  Y.,    St.  George's, 

*S'th01eveland,0.,St.  George's, 
Toledo,  O.,  St.  George's, 

•Utica,  N.  Y.,         St.  George's, 
Worcester,  Mass.,  St.  George's, 

•Waterloo,  N.  Y.,  St.  George's, 


D.  Goodge, 

A.  H.  Wood, 

J.  Barratt,        G.  Dadd. 

G.  Higgins. 
W.  Mans,         W.  Cochrane. 


L.  Thompson,  W.  Underdown. 


D.  B.  Tennant,  J.  Campbell. 


T.  Lunn. 
R.  M.  Stacey,  C.  Weeks. 
W.  Giles,        A.  Fenwick. 
G.  Fuller,        T.  Lunn. 
H.  J.  Reeves,  G.  Higgins. 
G.  Wilson,       G.  Brereton. 
J.  Whiffin,      T.  Bish. 


•Belleville,  On., 
•Brantford,  On., 
•Clifton,  On., 

Coburg,  On., 

Gait,  On., 
•Guelph,  On., 
•Hamilton,  On., 

Halifax,  N.  S., 
•Kingston,  On., 
•London,  On., 


J.  Elliott, 
R.  Law, 


o -A- isr  .A.  3D -A. 
St.  George's, 
St.  George's, 
St.  George's, 
St.  George's, 
St.  George's, 
St.  George's, 
St.  George's, 
St.  George's, 
St.  George's, 
St.  George's, 


G,  Muder,  Sr., 
A.  Green, 


T.  Heaman, 


D.  McArthnr. 


J.  P.  Exeil. 
M.J.Henders'n. 

A.H.Blakesley. 
A.  Burrows. 
A.  Brunditch. 
R.  T.  Murray. 
A.  Le  Richeux. 
I.  B.  Cox. 


40 


PBEBIDXIIT. 


8K0RBTABT. 


St.  George's, 


Montreal, 
•Ottawa, 
•Peterboro,  On., 

Prescott,  On., 

Quebec, 
•Strathroy,  On.,  St.  George's, 
♦St.Cath'rines,On.,  St.  George's, 
•Toronto,  On.,       St.  George's, 


St.  George's, 
St.  George's, 
St.  George's, 
St.  George's, 


J.  Kerry,         F.  H.  Reynolds. 
D.  Sweatland,  Wm.  Mills. 
G.  Bartie,        G.  E.  Shaw. 

D.  E.  Price,    A.  Pope. 

W.  H.  Ewer,  G.  Greenaway. 

T.  Saxon, 

S.  Trees,         J.  E.  Pell. 
Those  marked  with  a  •  are  affiliated  with  the  North  America 
St.  George's  Union. 

Information  in  regard  to  affiliation  or  the  forming  of  St.  George's 
Societies,  will  be  cheerfully  given  by  W.  Tomlin,  Corresponding 
Secretary,  Bridgeport,  Conn.  There  are  no  fixed  fees,  but  annual 
subscriptions  to  cover  the  incidental  expenses  only  are  expected, 
the  officials  giving  their  time  and  services  gratuitously. 

N.  B. — The  societies  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  and  Kingston,  Ont.,  not 
being  represented  at  the  Convention,  have  remitted  their  subscrip- 
tions since  the  list  was  in  type. 


^i         > 


41 


NAMES  OF  THE  PAST  AND  PRESENT 

OFFICERS 

OF  THE 

NORTH    AMERICA    ST.    GEORGE'S    UNION. 


'    ' 


1872. — John  Greenaway,  President,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  Dr.  James 
Fuller,  First  Vice-President,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  George  T. 
Jones,  Recording  Secretary^  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  Thomas  P. 
Way,  Corresponding  Secretary,  Albany,  N.  Y. ;  l)r. 
Charles  Barnes,  Financial  Secretary,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  D. 
Batchelor,  Treasurer,  Utica,  N.  Y. 

1873. — ^iTilliamson  Spruce,  President,  Utica,  N.  Y. ;  J.  F.  Saxon, 
First  Vic«-President,  St.  Catherines,  Ont.;  Stracy  Lake> 
Recording  Secretary,  Oswego,  N.  Y. ;  Thomas  Lunn,  Cor- 
responding Secretary,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.;  D.  Batchelor, 
Financial  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Utica,  N.  Y. 

1874.— George  T.  Bryan,  President,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.;  J.  F.  Saxon, 
First  Vice-President,  St.  Catherines,  Ont.;  Stracy  Lake, 
Recording  Secretary,  Oswego,  N.  Y. ;  Thomas  Lunn,  Cor- 
responding Secretary,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.;  D.  Batchelor, 
Financial  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Utica,  N.  Y. 

1875.--George  T.  Bryan,  President,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.;  J.  F.  Saxon, 
First  Vice-President,  St.  Catherines,  Ont.;  Stracy  Lake, 
Recording  Secretary,  Oswego,  N.  Y. ;  Thomas  Lunn,  Cor- 
responding Secretary,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.;  D.  Batchelor, 
Treasurer  and  Financial  Secretary,  Utica,  N.  Y.;  Rev.  J. 
M.  Henderson,  Chaplain,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

1876. — Lewis  Thompson,  President,  Philadelphia,  Pa. ;  J.  A.  H. 
St.  Andrew,  First  Vice-President,  Farmville,  Va.;  Thom- 
as Lunn,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  C.  S.  Sault,  Cohoes,  N.  Y., 
Recording   Secretaries;  Wm.   Underdown,  Philadelphia, 


42 


Pa.,  Win.  Toiiilin,  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  Corresponding  Sec- 
retaries ;  U.  Uatclielor,  Treasurer  and  Financial  Secretary, 
Utica,  N.  Y,;  Rev,  D.  Suddards,  D.  D.,  Chaplain,  rhihi- 
deljihia.  Pa. 
1877. — George  Roach,  Presi<lent,  Hanjilton,  Ont. ;  Sanmel  Lees, 
First  Vice-President,   Philadelphia,   Pa.;    D,   Batchelor, 
Treasurer,  Utica,  N.  Y.;  W.  Tomlin,  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary, Bridgeport,  Conn, ;  C.  E.  P(Mrce,  General  Secreta- 
ry, Hamilton,  Ont. ;  Rev.  W.  D'Orville  Doty,  Chaplain, 
Watertown,  N.  Y.;  the  Executive  Committee,  the  above 
,        officers  and  J.  E.  Pell,  of  Toronto,  Ont.,  and  G.  Chase,  of 
Guelph,  Ont. 


43 


COPY   OF  TRAVELING  OR  VISITINa 

CARDS 

FOB 
MEMBERS    OF   AFPILLiTED    SOCIETIES    IN    GOOD    STANDING. 


^o« 


t«^ 


j^^EBlCA    ST.     GEORQE,g 


^^/, 


%. 


This  is  to  Certify  That  Mr. 
is  a  member  in  good  standing  qf  the  ST.  GEORGE'S  SOCIETY 
iff  .     We  commend  him  to  your  kind  consideration. 

President,  'i 

>  St.  George's  Society. 
Secretary.  ) 

Signature  Visiting  Brother. 


These  cards  can  be  obtained  by  affiliated  societies  on  application 
to  W.  Tomlin,  Corresponding  Secretary,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 


«!.  > 


44 


PLACES  OF  INTEREST  VISITED. 


The  following  places  of  interest  were  visited  by  the  delegates. 
Many  other  invitations  extended  to  them,  could  not  be  accepted 
through  press  of  business  and  shortness  of  time. 

Independence  Hall. 

Girard  College. 

Masonic  Temple. 

Reformatory  Schools. 

Academy  of  Fine  Arts.  » 

International  Exhibition. 

Mr.  Joseph  Smith's,  on  the  Wigsahickon. 

Atlantic  Cityt 

Mr.  Julius  Hinckes'  vineyards,  Egg  Harbor  City. 

AT  THE  EXHIBITION. 

The  delegates  were  received  at  the  music  stand  in  the  Main 
Building  by  Manager  Greene  and  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
Exhibitors'  Association.  Mr.  W.  T.  Wilkins  spoke  on  behalf  of 
the  society,  and  returned  thanks  for  the  kind  invitation  to  visit  the 
Exhibition.  He  said  it  gave  them  all  great  pleasure  to  be  present. 
During  their  stay  in  Philadelphia,  the  delegates  had  received  the 
most  hospitable  treatment.  The  kindest  feelings  had  been  evinced 
toward  them  by  the  people  of  Philadelphia,  and  they  should  carry 
to  their  homes  the  same  kind  sentiments  in  return. 

Mr.  J.  A.  H.  St.  Andrew,  of  Virginia,  said  that  one  hundred 
delegated  of  the  society  were  present,  and  that  the  objects  of  the 
Sons  of  St.  George  were  benevolence  and  the  promotion  of  peace 
and  good  will  among  all  Engliah  speaking  people.  He  regarded 
the  late  Centennial  as  a  forerunner  of  the  good  time  coming,  when 
Wi  should  turn  all  our  swords  to  plowshares,  and  peace  should 


A 


45 


reign  supreme.  He  was  glad  to  see  the  Oentennial  perpetuated 
by  the  Exhibition,  and  hoped  it  would  long  stand  an  honor  to 
Philadelphia  and  to  the  country. 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Greene,  on  behalf  of  the  Exhibition  manage- 
ment, expressed  pleasure  in  welco^ning  these  representative  gentle- 
men to  the  Main  Building.  While  those  from  all  the  other  States 
were  always  welcome,  he  was  particularly  glad  to  see  so  many 
present  from  the  Canadian  Dominion.  The  prominent  share  taken 
in  our  Centennial  celebration  was  remembered  by  all,  and  the 
company  fully  appreciated  the  kindly  interest  manifested  in  the 
recent  shipment  of  a  large  exhibit  of  Canadian  goods  for  the  Edu- 
cational Department  of  the  present  Exhibition.  He  thanked  them 
for  the  honor  of  the  visit.  He  then  introduced  Mr.  M.  Erickson, 
Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee,  who  welcomed  the  dele- 
gates on  behalf  of  the  Exhibitors'  Association,  and  expressed  the 
kindest  feelings  toward  all,  but  particularly  desired  to  welcome 
those  from  England  and  Canada,  which  countries  were  better  rep- 
resented at  the  Centennial  than  any  other  except  the  United  States. 
He  concluded  by  speaking  in  the  highest  terms  of  fhe  Society  of 
St.  George,  which  he  pronounced  an  honor  to  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Peirce,  of  Hamilton,  responded  on  behalf  of  the  Canadian 
delegation,  and  S9.id  they  regretted  that  their  visit  would  have  to 
be  brief.  He  could  not  thank  Mr.  Greene  enough  for  his  remarks 
with  regard  to  the  Canadian  educational  exhibit.  Not  only  in  the 
name  of  the  Canadian  delegates,  but  in  that  of  all,*  he  desired  to 
return  thanks  for  the  very  kind  and  hospitable  treatment  they  had 
received.  The  visitors  were  then  shown  about  the  building,  ex- 
pressing themselves  much  pleased  with  the  display. 

"  God  save  the  Queen "  was  sung  by  Mr.  Tomlin  in  the  main 
transept,  the  whole  of  the  company  present  joining  in  the  chorus. 

After  making  a  somewhat  hurried  visit  to  the  Art  Gallery  and 
Horticultural  Hall,  the  party  were  driven  out  to  Mr.  Smith's  place 
on  the  Wissahickon,  where  a  warm  and  truly  hospitable  old  Eng- 
lish welcome  greeted  them.  After  admiring  the  many  curiosities 
manufactured  from  roots  by  the  venerable  proprietor,  (now  in  bis 
eightieth  year),  and  a  short  pull  on  the  river  by  way  of  an  appetiz- 
er, dinner  was  announced.  •  After  partaking  of  the  good  old  Eng- 
lish fare-— roast  beef  and  plum  pudding,  washed  down  with  nutty 


46 


brown  ale— an  adjournment  to  the  parlor  took  place,  where  the 
hoars  passed  rapidly  away  in  social  mirth  and  fiin.  In  the  gray 
of  the  evening,  the  party  were  whirled  away  to  the  city,  many  of 
the  delegates  having  to  leave  for  the  East,  West  and  North  by 
the  midnight  train. 

On  Saturday,  the  remaining  delegates  paid  a  visit  to  Atlantic 
City  and  the  vineyards  at  Egg  Harbor.  A  most  enjoyable  time 
was  had,  a  fitting  finish  to  the  labors  and  enjoyments  of  the  week. 

Thus  ended  the  most  enjoyable  and  successful  Convention  of 
the  North  America  St.  George's  Union. 


A.  ID  ID  E  >T  ID  A. 


FIFTH  ANNUAL  CONVENTION, 


OF    THE 


t 


^^.l-^^^^'-^'-'-S'^f,, 


HELD    AT 


St.   er00i?g<5'8  IplaU,  ^fhUad^lpthia,  3fa., 
September  11th,  12th  and  18th,  1877, 

CONTAINING  BEPORT  OF  THE  ADDRESSES  OF  WELCOME, 

REPLIES  TO  SAME,  INAUGURAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

PRESIDENT,  AND  FOUR  INTERESTING  PAPERS 

READ  BEFORE  THE  CONVENTION. 


BRIDGEPORT: 

FABMBB  OFFIOE  RTEAH  JOP  PBEBB,   OOB.    WAIiIi  AMD  WATEB  BTS. 

1877. 


49 


ADDRESSKS  OFAVELCOME, 


WM.  WATERALL,  ESQ., 


VICE-PRESIDENT   OF  THE   "SONS  OF   ..T.   GEORGE." 


Gentlemen  : — The  Society  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George  of  this 
city  has  coinmisHioned  me,  one  of  its  humble  members,  to  oflTer  you, 
in  their  name,  a  word  of  cordial  greeting  and  welcome.  We  feel 
at  liberty  to  use  earnest  words  of  welcome  to  you,  because  the 
very  atmosphere  around  us  is  charged  with  tender  words  and  kind- 
ly glances  that  have  already  passed  from  eye  to  eye  and  ear  to 
ear,  and,  we  trust,  taken  from  you  the  feeling  of  being  strangers 
in  our  midst.  As  we  bid  you  welcome  to  our  City  of  Homes,  we 
assure  you  that  our  desire  is  to  maintain  the  fair  fame  of  our  city, 
won  during  the  Centennial,  for  its  hospitality.  As  we  invite  you 
to  our  private  homes,  we  tell  you  that,  although  many  of  them  are 
small,  in  this  free  land,  like  English  homes,  they  are  our  castles, 
and  from  large  hearts  we  bid  you  welcome  to  them.  You  will  par- 
don us  if  we  manifest  what  the  Scotch  call  a  little  "  dacent  pride," 
as  we  bid  you  welcome  to  the  stately  home  of  our  venerable  socie- 
ty, and  tell  you  that  true  British  energy  laid  its  foundations,  reared 
its  marble  walls,  put  on  its  capstone,  crowned  it  with  the  finest 
statue  of  St.  George  and  the  dragon,  in  the  world, — all  in  the  face 
of  "  hard  times."  With  pleasure  we  throw  wide  open  the  doors  of 
our  St.  George's  Hall  to  greet  you,  gentlemen,  who  have  come 
from  the  fair  Dominion  of  Canada,  from  the  far  East,  so  prolific  in 
ideas,  and  the  sunny  South  of  our  adopted  land,  to  represent  your 
respective  societies  at  this  Convention  of  the  N.  A.  St.  George's 
Union.  We  are  glad  to  know  that  all  over  this  broad  land,  there 
are  springing  up  St.  George's  Societies,  emulating  the  example  of 
the  older  societies  in  caring  for  the  suffering  and  unfortunate  ones, 
our  fellow  countrymen  who  como  among  us  as  strangers,  fresh  from 
our  beautiful  island  home.  Sons  of  St.  George,  it  is  our  mission 
to  dive.st  the  stranger  of  his  sense  of  loneliness  in  a  strange  land, 
to  smooth  the  rough  places  and  ease  him  of  the  heavy  burdens  in 
his  new  sphere  of  life.     Let  the  Caesars  and  Napoleons  pursue  the 


warrior's 


blood-stained 
4 


path  to  human  glory :  let  us  emulate  the 


60 

virtue  of  charity  eml)odio«i  in  the  storied  life  of  our  nation's  saint, 
who,  after  performing  tlie  heroic  deeds  we  now  have  with  us  so 
exquisitely  told  in  bronze,  and  alter  liberating  the  fair  Princess 
Clerodilinda,  you  will  remember,  gave  the  costly  gifts  the  King 
presented  him  with,  to  the  p<»or,  and  went  quietly  on  hisNvay.  Let 
us  shape  the  policy  of  our  respective  societies  by  the  same  peace- 
loving  spirit  that  has  made  the  life  and  reign  of  England's  Queen 
transcondently  brighter  to  the  moral  vision  of  all  good  and  true 
men.  Victoria,  the  good,  has  ever  been  more  ready  to  heal  broken 
hearts  thaii  to  crush  them. 

England,  under  the  benign  influences  of  her  reign,  has  gradual- 
ly risen  from  the  lower  plane  of  being  the  leader  of  the  physical 
forces  of  the  world,  to  that  grander  and  higher  plane  of  marshal- 
ing and  leading  its  moral  and  intellectual  forces,  thus  helping  on- 
ward that  better  time  that  England's  gifted  poet  sings  of  in  such 
lofty  strains : 

"When  the  war  drum  throbb'd  no  longer, 
And  the  battle  flags  were  furled, 
In  the  parliament  of  man, 
The  federation  of  the  world." 

Gentlemen,  again  we  renew  our  hearty  welcome,  and  will  you 
pardon  us  for  saying,  as  we  are  about  to  meet  in  convention  to 
deliberate  on  questions  pertaining  to  the  well-being  of  our  country- 
men, that  if  the  hearts  and  energies  of  Lord  Nelson's  men  were 
fired  when  he  uttered  that  famous  war  note,  ♦'  England  this  day 
expects  that  every  man  will  do  his  duty,"  so,  in  this  age  of  light, 
a  greater  than  Nelson,  Christ,  expects  that  every  man  hearing  His 
name  will  be  faithful  to  God  and  duty. 


WM.    T.    WILKINS,    ESQ. 


OF  THE  SONS   OF  ST.   GEORGE. 


Sir  and  Brothers:— It  has  fallen  to  my  lot  to  say  a  few 
words  of  welcome  to  you  as  Sons  of  St.  George  and  delegates  of 
Jib  Umon  Brethren,  1  am  free  to  say  that  I  feel  my  inability  to 
fiilfill  so  pleasant  a  task.    But  then,  we  know  that  a  generous. 

is  wT!,'  *  *""!  \°^"'^  ^^^^""S,  is  not  to  be  expressed  in 
words,  but  deeds;  and  those  not  so  much  by  their  magnificence, 
^Jl  fl  "**r^  simplicity,  not  throwing  around  ySu  the  re' 
stramts  of  formal  society,  but  the  freedom  of  home. 

e«m!  Zli^^'  ^T^J  ""^  ^et  you  as  those  who  claim  noble,  gen- 
erous, truth-lovmg,  freedom-planting,  law-abiding  ancestors,  wEose 


51 


illustrioug  line  runs  back  to  pro-luHtonc  tiiauH,  and  for  the  latit  one 
thouHand  years,  have  ever  l>een  fureinost  as  Briton  h,  to  take  tlieir 
stand  for  the  rights  of  man,  those  natural  and  those  acquired,  and 
ever  having  an  undying  love  for  their  native  isle,  lifting  it  from  a 
barbarous  state  to  one  of  superior  civilization ;  that,  to-day,  among 
all  the  nations  of  the  earth,  to  be  born  a  Briton  will  carry  with  it 
respect  and  protection — all  that  a  man  has  a  right  in  this  world  to 
claim.     The  Roman  citizen  was  protected  because  the  tread  of  its 
armies  made  the  nations  tremble,  and  that  citizen  soon  hail  his  re- 
venge by  the  fleet-footed  justice  of  tlie  Roman  tribunal,  if  his  right 
was  invaded.     In  that  respect,  a  Briton  stands  on  a  par  with  the 
"  most  noble  Roman  of  them  all."     But,  add  to  all  tliat,  a  Briton 
has  the  moral  power  to  sustain  him,  which  is  more  powerful  than 
the  tread  of  armed  men  and  serried  host,  proud  to  claim  such  a 
heritage  and  so  strong  an  individual  character,  that  to  day,  the 
English  nation  is  substantially  the  same  as  before  the  Conquest, 
and  while  other  conquered  nations  have  lost  their  individuality  and 
have  become  absorbed  by  the  conquerors,  Englaml  has  maintained 
against  all  forces,  her  language,  customs,  laws,  and  absorbed  into 
herself  her  conquerors,  Roman,  Norman,  Pict,  and  Scot,  and  Dane, 
and  fused  them  into  one  mass,  known  as  the  English  nation,  not 
Anglo-Saxon.     Let  us  then  be  careful  of  the  fundamental  princi- 
ples that  lay  as  the  bottom  rock  of  our  glorious  nation,  against 
which  the  storms  of  centuries  have  been  beating  in  vain,  ever 
keeping  in  mind  that  to  whatever  clime  we  may  be  transplanted, 
we  must  be  English  so  far  as  our  principles  and  duty  to  our  fellow 
men,  of  whatever  station,  or  color,  or  nationality;  for,  of  all  men, 
an  Englishman  should  be  cosmopolitan,  for  he  is  found  a  Hweller 
in  every  part  of  the  habitable  globe,  leading  commerce,  planting 
colonies,  ruling  empires,  formulating  laws  for  nations  just  emerging 
from  barbarism,  making  discoveries  in  the  earth  and   heavens, 
building  schools,  establishing  colleges,  founding  hospitals,  driving 
back  heathenism  into  the  night  of  the  past,  and  bringing  forth 
Christianity  as  the  light  of  the  morning.     So  we  welcome  you  of 
Canada  to  this,  our  adopted  land  and  city,  with  all  its  beauties, 
the  City  of  Brotherly  Love,  so  fully  carrietl  out  by  the  number  of 
its  noble  charities,  more  than  any  other  city,  of  greater  diversity, 
and  the  Sons  of  St.  George  not  the  least  among  them,  with  its 
generous  heart  and  open  hands,  and  its  beautiful,  chaste  marble 
hall  standing  in  the  midst  of  our  city,  an  enduring  monument  to 
the  aesthetic  taste  and  liberality  of  Englishmen,  in  a  city  more 
English  than  any  other.     And  if  it  was  not  a  city  of  America,  it 
would  be  an  English  city.     Hoping  that  before  you  return  to  your 
homes,  we  shall  be  able  to  prove  all  this  to  you  by  actual  observa- 
tion, and  add  so  much  to  your  happiness  while  you  dwell  in  our 
midst.     As  delegates,  then,  to  this  noble  Union  of  the  Sons  of  St. 
George,  coming  from  different  parts  of  this  mighty  land  and  Cana- 


52 


da,  we  welcome  yoo  to  its  duties,  and  they  are  of  no  trivial  kind, 
for  to  you  is  committed  the  welfare  of  man,  "  a  creature  dear  to 
God,"  and  not  man  in  his  prosperity  only,  but  more  especially 
man  in  need,  at  a  time  when  to  advise  and  counsel,  and  to  help,  i^t 
to  prove  your  nationality  and  brotherhood,  as  well  as  to  carry  out 
that  divine  injunction  of  Him  who  was  always  ready  to  help  the 
needy :  "  The  poor  ye  have  with  you  always,  and  when  ye  will, 
you  can  do  them  good,"  and  then  the  reflect  influence  is  blessing 
on  those  that  give.    It  enlarges  our  hearts,  widens  our  sympathies 
and  gives  us  a  better  understanding  of  the  human  character ;  and 
when  charity  is  given  with  sincerity  and  without  ostentation  or  un- 
kiud  f»rutiny,  it  will  have  its  reward  in  this  life  and  in  tlie  life  to 
oomc.    Then,  brother  delegates,  let  us  address  ourselves  to  the 
work  with  all>our  energies  and  directness  of  purpose,  having  a  for- 
bearance with  each  other,  so  that,  when  we  separate,  we  may  feel 
that  it  has  not  been  in  vain  that  we  have  met,  not  only  as  Eng- 
lishmen and  delegates,  representing  our  different  societies,  but  as 
brothers,  having  one  common  object,  bound  by  the  common  ties  of 
blood,  which  is  thicker  than  water  and  will  tell,  as  we  who  had 
the  great  pleasure  of  meeting  in  Old  Virginia,  can  testify,  where 
all  was  done  for  comfort  and  happiness.    "  The  fatted  calf  was 
killed,  and  we  were  merry."    The  remembrance  of  such  kindness 
and  generous  hospitality  will  never  be  removed  as  long  as  memoir 
holds  her  sway.    As  far  as  we  can,  we  will  try  and  emulate  such 
brotherly  kindness.    Come,  then,  brothers,  to  our  festive  board, 
and  while  we  meet  around  our  table  and  together  partake  of  the 
good  things  that  God  has  provided  for  his  creatures,  we  ctt:^.  rejoice 
and  feel  the  joys  of  brotherhood  afresh,  which  will  help  to  bring 
on  the  good  time  coming,  when  "  all  the  world  shall  brothers  be, 
and  our  intercourse,  I  trust,  will  instruct  and  improve  us,  intellect- 
ually and  morally.    And  we  will  know  each  other  better  hh'^ 
gather  fresh  knowledge,  all  tending  to  round  out  our  livcd  and 
make  us  more  useful  m  this  world,  to  dry  the  tear,  ease  the  bur- 
den, cheer  the  downcast,  instruct  the  child,  plant  flowers,  not 
thorns,  in  the  pathway  of  men,  and  perform  the  duty  of  the  pass- 
ing hour  with  all  our  might,  for  life  is  short  and  opportunity  is 
fleeting,  and  we  are  warned  by  its  transitoiy  character  to  make  the 
most  of  it.    One  of  the  great  German  poets  has  said,  "  Only  the 
want  of  habit  to  do  something  good,  is  the  cause  why  many  men 
find  pleasure  in  what  is  silly  and  absurt'.    One  ought,  every  day, 
at  least,  to  hear  a  little  song,  read  a  goc  d  poem,  see  an  excellent 
picture,  and,  if  it  could  be  done,  say  something  sensible."    Let  us, 
then,  try  to  imitate  the  excellent  of  the  earth ;  let  us  look  for  duty 
with  the  same  earnestness  that  we  look  for  pleasure.    I  know, 
brothers,  the  height  charms  us,  but  the  steps  to  it  do  not,  and  with 
the  snnny  summit  of  our  expectation  in  our  eye,  we  love  to  walk 
along  the  plain.    Let  us  not  grow  weary  in  well-doin^r ;  we  shall 


4 


53 


4- 


reap  if  we  faint  not,  ever  keeping  in  mind,  if  we  fulfill  our  duty,  we 
are  agents  of  God,  instruments  in  His  hand  to  work  out  His  purpose 
for  tbe  elevation  of  man,  and  prepare  him  for  greater  revelations 
of  His  power  and  goodness.  How  great  the  honor  conferred  on 
us,  to  be  co-workers  with  God  in  some  humble  sphere,  and,  broth- 
ers, if  any  plan  is  brought  before  us  for  enlarging  our  work,  and 
thereby  increasing  our  opportunities  for  doing  good,  let  us  give  it 
attention  and  thought,  so  that  we  may  plan  wisely,  execute  speedi- 
ly, and  with  perseverance  cairy  out  such  plans  to  their  desired  end, 
for  the  future  is  ours,  as  well  as  the  presenx.  Other  men,  a  hun- 
dred years  ago,  planted  for  us,  and  we  must  plant  for  coming  gen- 
erations; for  one  of  the  highest  objects  of  man's  life  is  to  be 
remembered  when  that  life  is  fled  and  the  green  grass  shall  cover 
the  mortal.  The  spirit  will  live  in  his  deeds,  and  will  become  an 
influence  for  good.  Knowing  that  this  is  the  object  of  our  gather- 
ing, and  when  we  go  again  to  our  homes  and  become  an  atom  in 
the  great  mountain  of  humanity,  and  perhaps  to  the  bustling  world 
and  money  grabbers^  little  and  unknown,  do  not  think  that  your 
1  abor  is  in  vain.  Keep  heart,  for  no  event  of  life,  no  good  deed, 
no  kind  word  is  lost.  All  are  treasured  up  and  watched  over  by 
Him  who  said  that  a  cup  of  cold  water  shall  not  lose  its  reward. 
Never  mind  disappointments;  let  them  nerve  you  to  jjreater  deeds, 
and  if  you  do  not  get  the  applause  of  men,  and  a  shade  of  sadndss 
should  come  over  your  spirit,  and  you  should  say — 

<    ■•''-■-_  What  shall  I  do  lest  life  in  silence  pass  ? 

And  if  it  do,  .  / 

And  never  prompt  the  bray  of  noisy  brass, 
What  needst  thou  rue  ? 

Remember  aye  the  ocean  deeps  are  mnte,       .;  ;,;, 

The  shallows  roar :  '* 

Worth  is  the  ocean ;  fame  is  but  the  bruit 
Along  the  shore. 

What  shall  I  do  to  be  forever  known?  ,,,, 

i  Thy  duty  ever. 

This  did  full  many  who  yet  slept  unknown ; 
O,  never,  never. 

Thinkost  thou,  perchance,  that  they  remain  unknown 

Whom  thou  knowest  not? 
By  angels'  trump  in  Heaven,  their  praise  is  blown ; 

Divine  their  lot 

-,.  What  shall  I  do,  an  heir  of  endless  life ? 

Discharge  aright 
■:T    iv  -        The  simple  dues  with  \mioh  each  day  is  rife- 
Yes,  with  thy  might. 

One  perfect  scheme  of  action  then  devise, 

Wm  life  be  fled; 
While  he  who  ever  acts  as  conscience  cries, 

Shall  live,  though  dead. 


54 


RESPONSES. 


D.  BATOHELOE,  ESQ.,  OF  UTIOA,  NEW  YORK. 


He  responded  to  the  words  of  welcome,  and  said  he  knew  they 
were  not  mere  empty  words.  He  ha<l  enjoyed  their  hospitality, 
and  would  venture  to  say  there  was  no  city  that  possessed  more 
English  characteristics  than  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  The  first 
year  of  his  manhood  was  spent  in  this  city.  When  he  came  here 
last  Autumn,  and  witnessed  the  glories  of  the  Exposition,  he^  saw 
what  far  surpassed  it.  West  Philadelphia,  which  was  formerly 
nothing  but  farms,  is  now  a  great  city.  When  he  looked  around 
the  magnificent  hall  of  the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George,  he 
felt  proud  of  being  an  Englishman. 


C.  E.  PEIRCE,  ESQ.,  HAMILTON,  ONTARIO. 


He  returned  the  thanks  of  the  Canadian  delegates  for  the  mag- 
nificent reception  they  had  received.  It  is  a  pride  and  plensure 
for  them,  in  looking  at  the  hall,  to  think  a  body  of  men  had  put 
up  such  a  building.  He  tnisted  that  the  stay  of  the  Canadians 
would  be  conducive,  not  only  to  their  own.  benefit,  but  to  that  of 
the  other  societies. 


-^iS 


J.  A.  H.  ST.  ANDREW,  ESQ.,  FARMVILLE,  VIRGINIA. 


Gentlemen  :— On  behalf  of  the  delegation  from  the  British 
Association  of  Virginia,  it  falls  to  my  duty  to  acknowledge  the 
generous  welcome  which  has  been  oflfered  us  to-night.  In  May 
last,  the  members  of  our  Association  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting 
many  of  you  in  the  Sunny  South,  and  our  recollections  of  the 
gratification  afforded  by  our  intercourse  on  that  occasion,  has 
brought  us  here  to-day,  with  delightful  anticipations  of  our  visit  to 


--L 


55 


Philadelphia.  Your  noblu  reception  makes  us  at  once  at  home 
and  happy  among  friends  indeed.  Depend  upon  it,  these  great 
reunions  are  accomplishing  a  glorious  work.  They  are  bringing 
Englishmen,  Irishmen,  Scotchmen  and  Welshmen,  resident  in  the 
United  States,  into  closer  relations  of  trust  and  friendship.  They 
are  making  Canadians  and  Americans  better  acquainted.  They 
are  reuniting  the  Northern  and  Southern  sections  of  our  adopted 
country.  They  are  exerting  no  small  influence  upon  the  diploma- 
cy which  regulates  the  relative  positions  of  the  United  States  aud 
the  United  Kingdom.  It  is,  therefore,  no  merely  idle  purpose 
which  has  drawn  us  together  from  the  far  North  of  Canada  to  the 
extreme  South  of  Dixie's  Land. 

It  is  a  matter  of  deep  regret  to  me  thf  '  - .  D.  B.  Tennant,  the 
genial  and  wh  >le-souled  President  of  •  ■  \  >3ociation,  and  many 
other  of  the  appointed  delegates  from  Virginia  are  absent  to-night 
from  unavoidable  causes.  Their  hearts  are  with  us,  and  your 
words  of  welcome  will  be  as  gratifying  to  them  as  to  us. 

On  behalf  of  Old  Virginia,  I  may  remind  you  that  when  the 
"  late  unpleasantness  "  was  ended,  our  State  was  the  first  to  chiv- 
alrously surrender  the  sword,  and  the  first  to  extend  a  warm  invi- 
tation to  Nbrthern  and  British  settlers  to  locate  within  her  borders. 
Southside  Virginia,  in  which  portion  of  the  State  I  reside,  has 
taken  the  lead  in  the  immigration  movement.  In  the  region  south 
of  the  James  River,  of  which  Petersburg  may  be  said  to  be  the 
metropolis,  we  have  numerous  Northern  and  British  colonies.  I 
am  informed  by  Dr.  Whitehead  and  Capt.  Grifiin,  who  have  made 
this  subject  peculiarly  their  own,  that  within  twenty  miles  of  Pe- 
tersburg, there  are  whole  townships  which  have  been  bought  up 
by  Northern  men,  and  which  are  making  excellent  returns  on 
investments  of  Northern  capital  and  industry.  The  country  be- 
tween Richmond  and  Petersburg  will  probably,  ere  long,  be  main- 
ly owned  by  Northern  settlers.  In  Mecklenburg  County,  the 
memory  of  the  lamented  Chief  Justice  Chase  is  perpetuated  by 
the  building  up  of  "a  Nort.hern  city  in  a  Southern  State,"  and 
Chase  City,  with  its  four  or  five  churches,  its  tobacco  warehouses, 
its  weekly  newspaper,  its  numerous  stores  and  other  evidences  of 
thrift  and  enterprise,  is  a  conclusive  proof  of  what  Northern  energy 
can  accomplish  in  the  South  when  wisely  directed.  In  Charlotte 
County,  there  are  upwards  of  three  hundred  Northern  families.  In 
Lunenburg,  Nottoway  and  Cumberland,  there  are  Northern  colo- 
nies. In  Amelia,  Mr.  Murray  M.  Blacker,  a  Deputy  Lord  Lieu- 
tenant and  Comity  Magistrate  from  the  Old  Country,  has  success- 
fully located  a  large  British  colony,  appropriately  designated  "  the 
Abercorn  Colony,"  in  honor  of  His  Grace,  the  Duke  of  Aberconi. 
In  Prince  Edward  County,  at  Farmville,  the  British  colonists  have 
established  an  "English  and  American  Bank,"  (which,  by  the 
way,  passed  through  the  panic  of  1873  with  open  doors  and  credit 


66 


unimpaired),  while  the  principal  hotel  and  the  local  newspaper  are 
conducted  by  Anglo- Virginians.  . 

To  these  facts  I  could  add  many  more,  shoinng  that  smco  the 
war,  millions  of  dollars  of  Northern  and  Britisli  capital  have  been 
attracted  to  Southside  Virginia.  Of  course,  there  have  been  fail- 
ures as  well  as  successes,  but,  on  the  whole,  the  results  have  been 
highly  encouraging,  and  it  has  been  clearly  demonstrated  that 
Northerners  and  Englishmen  can  settle  in  the  South,  with  advan- 
tage to  themselves  and  benefit  to  the  country,  'i'he  vast  mineral 
wealth  of  Virginia  will,  ere  long,  be  developed  j  her  immense 
water  power  is  certain  to  find  employment ;  her  wafete  places  will 
bloom  again,  and  in  "  the  good  time  coming,"  the  ancient  Com- 
monwealth will  once  more  uplift  her  head  among  the  Union  of 
States,  second  to  none  in  the  wealth  and  enterprise,  as  she  has  ever 
been  in  the  chivalry  and  nobility  of  her  people.  To  promote  these 
grand  results,  we  gladly  welcome  settlers,  whether  from  the  East, 
the  West,  the  North,  or  from  Europe.  Under  the  beneficent  re- 
gime of  President  Hayes  and  Governor  Kemper,  political  animosi- 
ties are  dying  out  everywhere ;  but  as  a  matter  of  fact,  we  never 
had  much  of  that  sort  of  thing  in  Virginia.  Settlers  iu  our  State 
have  never  heard  of  a  real  or  imaginary  Ku-Klux.  They  can  vote 
as  they  please,  advocate  whatever  opinions  they  choose,  and  will 
be  respected  by  everybody,  irrespective  of  politics,  if  they  conduct 
themselves  as  gentlemen  and  bona-fide  citizens. 

On  behalf  of  Anglo-Virginians,  what  can  I  say  more  than  that 
we  love  our  adopted  State  with  a  devotion  equal  to  that  with 
which  we  always  remember  the  land  of  our  birth  ?  The  love  of 
Old  Virginia  for  Old  England  is  shown  in  a  thousand  ways  which 
are  gratifying  to  the  heart  of  the  British  settler.  The  Ancient 
Dominion  is  the  most  essentially  British  portion  of  this  gi'eat  re- 
public. The  mother  of  States  and  of  statesmen  is  also  the  mother 
of  adopted  citizens.    Of  Virginians  it  has  well  been  said  that  they 


are 


"  The  knighUiest  of  the  knightly  race. 
Who,  since  the  days  of  old, 
Have  kei>t  the  lamp  of  chivalry 
Alight  in  hearts  of  gold." 

In  years  to  come,  the  Union,  "  one  and  indivisible,"  will  have 
reason  to  rejoice,  not  so  much  perhaps  in  the  victories  of  war,  as  in 
the  tiact  that  this  gallant  people  of  the  genial  Southern  clime  have 
been  preserved  to  the  nation,  whose  grandeur  and  glories  they 
have  done  so  much  to  create,  and  will  yet  do  more  to  extend. 
After  the  civil  war,  Pennsylvania  nobly  came  forward  with  the 
sublime  greeting  to  the  South  of  "let  brotherly  love  continue," 
and  I  am  tore  to  tell  you  that  this  message  of  peace  was  accepted, 
and  that  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  stand  united  for  all  time. 

Gentlemen,  we  have  long  heard  of  your  great  St.  George's  So- 


57 

ciety  and  of  your  magnificent  St.  George's  Hall.  Your  good  deeds 
and  grand  achievements  have  stimulated  us  to  strive,  however 
humbly,  to  follow  in  your  footsteps.  While  we  can  never  hope  to 
attain  the  success  which  has  crowned  your  efforts,  we  are  nevMthe- 
less  encouraged  thereby  to  do  what  little  we  can  in  the  same  good 
cause.  Your  society  is  a  glorioub  exemplar  to  similar  organiza- 
tions elsewhere.  We  will  gladly  follow  your  lead.  Our  presence 
at  this  Convention  will  but  serve  to  strengthen  our  resolves  that 
the  British  Association  of  Virginia  shall  yet  be  made  a  credit  to 
Old  Virginia  and  a  permanent  blessing  to  our  British  settlers. 
May  the  smile  of  Heaven  rest  on  all  your  undertaVings,  and  may 
the  friendships  formed  in  Virginia  and  strengthened  in  Philadel- 
phia, grow  with  our  years  and  extend  with  our  wisdom. 


G.   W.   LONGSTAFF,  ESQ.,   BRIDGEPORT,  CT. 


<■> 


Being  the  recipients  of  such  a  truly  generous  British  welcome, 
and  listening  to  the  hearty  expressions  of  fellowship  and  good 
feeling,  we  realize  the  truth  of  the  words  of  the  old  song :  "  "Tis  a 
rich,  rough  gem,  deny  it  who  can ;  f^nd  this  is  the  heart  of  an  Eng- 
lishman." 

We  have  come  here,  Mr.  President,  to  Ub«  our  best  efforts  for 
the  purpose  of  extending  among  our  fellow  countrymen  this  same 
bond  of  unity,  until  it  shall  embrace  all  honest  Englishmen  on 
this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  an^l  we  trust  the  characteristic,  energy, 
pluck  and  perseverance  of  my  countrymen  will  accomplish  this 
result.  For  our  own  little  society,  I  will  say  a  few  words  by  way 
of  defining  our  present  position.  We  nirmber  about  one  hundred 
members,  and  have  been  organized  about  four  years.  At  first,  its 
objects  were  more  social  and  convivial  than  benevolent ;  but  the 
earnest,  thinking  men  soon  became  dissatisfied  with  this,  and  re- 
solved to  build  up  a  society  that  should  be  a  credit  and  honor  to 
Englii^hmen  ;  a  society  that  should  relieve  the  distressed,  feed  the 
hungry,  and  care  for  the  widow  and  orphan.  I  am  proud  to  say 
that  in  these  respects,  our  society  is  a  success,  and  we  feel  that  we 
shall  go  back  from  this  Convention  with  renewed  strength  and 
vigor  for  the  good  work.  On  behalf  of  the  Bridgeport  delegation, 
I  beg  to  thank  you  Leartily  for  the  kind  v.'elcome  you  have  ex- 
tended to  us. 


(  /I 


58 


INAUGURAL   ADDRESS 

OF 

LEWIS  THOMPSON,  PRESIDENT   NORTH  AMERICA 
ST.  GEORGE'S   UNION, 

AT  THE  OPENING  SESSION  OF  THE  ANNUAL  CONVENTION,  IN  ST. 

GEORGE'S  HALL,   PHILADELPHIA,   ON   WEDNESDAY, 

SEPTEMBER   12TH,   1877. 


\ 


Gentlemen  qf  the  Convention : 

Once  more,  we  are  assembled  in  what  we  may  term  the  Annual 
Parliament  of  Englishmen  in  the  United  Slates  and  Canada.  On 
this  occasion,  it  first  becomes  my  pleasing  duty,  on  behalf  of  the 
members  of  the  ancient  and  prosperous  Society  of  the  Sons  of  St. 
George,  to  welcome  you,  one  and  all,  to  the  hospitable  city  of 
Philadelphia.  Sons  of  St.  George,  our  hearts,  our  homes,  and  our 
hospitality  respond  to  your  presence  with  delight,  and  we  hope  to 
make  your  visit  to  Philadelphia  at  once  agreeable  and  useful.  All 
we  ask  is,  that  you  will  make  your  wants  known,  that  they  may 
be  supplied,  and  that  you  will  accept  what  we  have  to  offer,  as 
unreservedly  as  we  tender  the  same. 

Our  esteemed  Secretary,  Mr.  Underdown,  will  place  before  the 
Convention  some  account  of  the  success  and  usefulness  of  the  Phil- 
adelphia Sons  of  St.  George.  I  will,  therefore,  only  say,  respect- 
ing it,  that  it  worthily  maintains  the  great  name  it  has  recoived, 
by  what  I  may  term  charitable  succession — surely  a  genuine  apos- 
tolic succession — from  those  heroes  of  the  past,  Benjamin  Franklin, 
good  Bishop  White,  Governor  Penn  and  Mr.  Thornton  (the  father 
of  onr  beloved  Sir  Edward  Thornton,  the  British  Ambassador  at 
Washington) — all  of  whom  were  identified  with  its  early  history. 
This  society  is  not  only  older  than  the  American  Union,  but  is 
also,  I  believe,  the  oldest  St.  George's  Society  in  this  country. 

In  Philadelphia,  the  delegates  will  find  a  city  which,  in  many 
respects,  is  essentially  English.  As  "  every  Englishman's  house 
is  his  castle,"  so  you  will  discover  it  to  be  here.  This  is  a  home- 
loving  people,  and  more  than  in  any  other  American  city  are  there 
homes  for  all,  from  the  humble  laborer  to  the  merchant  prince. 


59 

PhiladolpliiaiiB  of  all  clasHeB  are  like  Englishmen,  and  believe 

that : — 

*'  Be  it  ever  so  humble, 
There  is  no  place  like  home." 

They  live  in  genuine  homes,  and  do  not  affect  the  giogarious  hab- 
its of  their  fellow-citizens  in  some  other  cities.  They  live  at  home, 
and  do  not  board  out.     To  these  homes,  then,  you  are  welcome. 

In  viewing  many  of  our  public  buildings,  you  will  be  reminded 
of  Old  England.  Independence  Hall  is  a  quaint  and  perfect  spe- 
cimen of  English  architecture  in  the  reigns  of  Queen  Anne  and 
the  earlier  Georges.  This  grand  old  historic  building  is  rich  in 
memories  which,  like  the  inspirations  of  Shakespeare  and  of  Mil- 
ton, belong  now  to  all  the  English-speaking  nations.  The  great- 
ness of  Washington  and  of  the  fathers  of  the  republic  descends,  as 
a  noble  heritage,  to  the  Anglo-Saxon  race,  and  is  limited  to  no 
mere  division  of  that  race.  Passing  along  our  streets,  you  may 
yet  catch  glimpses  of  members  of  that  "  Society  of  Friends "  who 
helped  William  Penn  to  lay  the  foundations  of  Pennsylvania  in 
peace  and  righteousness.  "  The  Quaker  of  the  olden  time,"  im- 
mortalized by  Whittier,  still  survives  in  this  city  : 

The  Quaker  of  the  Olden  Time ! 

How  calm  and  firm  and  true. 
Unspotted  by  its  wrong  and  crime. 

He  walked  the  dark  earth  through." 

Meeting  in  this  city,  which  the  peaceful  Quakers  dedicated  to 
Brotherly  Love,  we  may  well  hope  that  the  blessing  of  the  God  of 
Peace  and  Lovi9  may  follow  our  deliberations. 

That  Englishmen  have  largely  contributed  to  the  growth  and 
extension  of  the  trade  and  commerce  of  oui  city,  is  beyond  dispute. 
Many  of  our  merchant  princes  are  of  English  origin,  and  in  every 
department  of  business  enterprise  there  are  Anglo-Americans, 
whose  careers  are  honorable  to  themselves  and  creditable  to  the 
countries  of  both  their  birth  and  adoption. 

Gentlemen,  you  meet  in  Philadelphia,  not  only  in  the  most 
appropriate  place  in  the  United  States,  but  also  under  circum- 
stances of  a  peculiarly  auspicious  character.  A  year  ago,  the  first 
Centennial  of  American  Independence  was  here  celebrated,  amid 
international  festivities  of  peace.  Old  England  and  Young  Amer- 
ica then  gi'asped  hands  in  friendship,  for  all  time.  The  magnifi- 
cent Centennial  Exposition  owed  no  small  portion  of  its  unparal- 
leled success  to  the  hearty  sympathy  and  cooperation  of  Great 
Britain  and  her  colonies.  The  young,  vigorous  and  go-a-head 
Dominion  of  Canada,  so  ably  represented  by  gentlemen  I  see  be- 
fore me,  was  admitted,  by  all  fair-minded  observers,  to  have  occu- 
pied a  foremost  place  in  the  displays  of  the  industries  of  the  world ; 


60 


and  once  mive,  in  this  assemblage,  Beautiful  Columbia  and  tair 
Canada  lock  arms  in  a  sisterly  embrace. 

This  Convention,  under  the  banner  of  St.  George,  has  assenit)led 
for  no  ulterior  purposes  of  private  gain  or  political  advantage. 
Anglo-Americans  do  not  trade  on  their  nationality.  They  do  not 
seek  to  win  political  positions  and  soft  places  under  Government, 
by  race  combinations.  Ours  is  purely  an  association  of  brotherly 
love.  Those  of  us  who  reside  in  the  United  States,  seek  only  to 
become  good  citizens,  to  obey  the  laws,  succeed  in  business,  pay 
our  taxes,  and  in  every  respect  prove  wortliy  of  the  land  of  our 
adoption.  We  desire  to  appropriate  to  ourselves  no  public  spoils, 
and  our  platform  is  one  of  philanthropy  and  not  of  politics.  Eng- 
lishmen in  the  United  States  seldom  seek  and  rarely  accept  public 
ofiice ;  and  hence  the  influence  they  exert,  is  quiet  and  useful  rath- 
er than  noisy  and  self-assertive.  And  yet,  from  the  very  begin- 
ning of  the  republic,  Anglo-Americans  have  contributed  as  largely, 
perhap],  as  any  class  of  citizens,  to  its  success  and- prosperity. 

Within  the  past  few  years,  a  perceptible  change  has  come  over 
the  native  American  niiind  with  regard  to  English  Americans. 
Time  was  when  England  was  hated  and  Englishmen  were  dis- 
liked by  the  leading  politicians  of  this  country.  In  those  days,  it 
seemed  as  if  Americans  cared  only  for  those  citizens  of  foreign 
birth  of  whom  it  could  be  said : 

•'  True  patriots  they,  for  be  it  understood, 
They  left  their  country  for  their  coimtry's  good," 

It  is  gratifying,  hpwever,  to  note  that  during  recent  years.  Eng- 
lishmen and  Americans  have  been  brought  into  closer  friendship. 
The  satisfactory  adjustment  of  all  matters  in  dispute  by  the  noble 
and  Christian  methods  of  arbitration ;  the  heartiness  with  which 
John  Bull  assisted  Brother  Jonathan  in  the  Centennial  Exposition 
last  year;  the  International  British  Celebration  in  Virginia,  and 
the  enthusiasm  with  whic^  ^.x  President  Grant  has  been  received 
in  England,  as  a  rep- est  76  American,  all  illustrate  the  genu- 
ine affection  which  binds  tL.  tv,'o  greatest  nations  of  the  world  to- 
gether. 

In  many  respects,  the  true  mission  of  the  Englishman  in  the 
United  States  is  to  advance  the  sacred  cause  of  peace.  Our  efforts 
aim  at  peace  between  the  English-speaking  nations  of  every  clime. 
Ma^  I  not  add,  that  our  labors  may  also  be  useful  in  healing  the 
di^rences  which  once  divided  our  fellow-citizens?  This,  at  all 
events,  is  my  belief.  I  do  most  firmly  believe  that  such  gather- 
ings as  the  Petersburg  Celebration  and  the  Annual  Conventions 
of  this  Union  are,  under  Divine  Providence,  becoming  powerful 
agencies  of  peace  and  reconciliation.  We  of  rhe  North,  have  been 
to  the  South,  and  have  seen  with  our  own  eyes  the  good  order  and 
Christian  progress  which  characterize  Southern  communities.    You, 


61 


gentlemen  of  the  South,  as  you  mingle  among  the  ^  ?ople  of  the 
Northern  States,  will  be  able  to  return  to  your  homes  and  friends, 
to  testify  that  the  dead  past  is  buried  and  the  living  present  means 
"  no  North,  no  South,  but  one  Union." 

It  cannot  but  be  gratifying  to  the  Hon.  George  J.  Bryan,  of 
fiuffalo;  the  Hon.  Daniel  Batchelor,  of  Utica;  Joseph  Mellor, 
Esq.,  Auburn,  N.  Y. ;  Dr.  James  Fuller,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  and 
the  other  public-spirited  gentlemen,  who,  four  or  five  years  ago, 
founded  the  North  America  St.  George's  Union,  to  see  that,  in  so 
shoi-t  a  time,  it  has  accomplished  so  much  good.  It  has  brought 
Canada  and  the  United  States  closer  together,  not  with  any  fool- 
ish idea  of  establishing  a  united  autonomy,  but  as  kindred  nations, 
living  side  by  side  in  peace  and  friendship,  and  emulous  only  of 
doing  good  deeds,  the  one  to  the  other.  As  I  have  remarked,  this 
Union  has  been  also  a  messenger  of  peace  between  the  Northern 
and  Southern  sections  of  the  United  States.  More  than  all,  the 
Union  has  benefited  Englishmen,  resident  in  the  United  States, 
everywhere.  If,  within  the  past  few  years,  Anglo-Americans  have 
made  their  influence  known  and  widely  acknowledged — ^and  always 
for  good ;  if  the  American  press  and  people  have  at  length  recog- 
nized the  fact  that  Anglo-Americans  form  an  enterprising,  philan- 
'^  ropic  and  patriotic  portion  of  the  nation ;  then,  sirs,  the  quiet, 

>i3tentatious  and  useful  labors  of  this  St.  George's  Union  have 
•,goly  assisted  in  accomplishing  these  happy  results.  Loyal  Can- 
a<liiins  may  rejoice  to  see  that  they  are  now  welcomed  within  the 
borders  of  the  United  States  as  friendly  allies,  and  not  viewed 
askance  as  possible  food  for  the  eagles  of  Uncle  Sam.  Our  South- 
em  brethren  may  "  hope  on,  hope  ever,"  as  they  find  themselves 
welcome  guests  in  Northern  cities..  Englishmen  everywhere,  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  may  well  acknowledge  the  good  Provi- 
dence which,  through  the  St.  George's  Union,  has  elevated  their 
position  in  the  nation  and  made  the  word  ^English  a  synonym  of 
respectability.  Native  Americans  have  also  some  reason  to  be 
proud  that  their  universal  invitations  to  immigrants  have  brought 
them  adopted  citizens  who,  in  the  United  States,  are  always  ready 
to  practice  those  great  principles  of  patriotism,  bene-^olence  and 
Christianity  which  they  inherited  from  a  glorious  ancestry  in  the 
Old  Country. 

In  thus  speaking  of  what  is  English  in  the  United  States,  I 
must,  of  course,  be  understood  to  refer  to  whatever  is  British,  My 
remarks  apply  also  to  loyal  Irishmen,  Scotsmen,  Welshmen,  and 
others  who  once  lived  under  the  protection  of — 

"  The  flag  which  braved  a  thousand  years 
The  barae  and  the  breeze." 

We  acknowledge  no  divisions  between  us  in  remembering  our 
British  origin.    Here,  I  would  say  that  the  presence  of  members 


62 

of  the  St.  Andrew's  Societies,  Cambria  Societies,  Caledonian  and 
Irish  Associations,  in  many  of  our  meetings,  has  given  me  unqual- 
ified pleasure.  I  hope  to  see  the  day  when  our  St.  George  s  Union 
will  develop  into  a  great  North  America  British  League,  ^  which 
we  shall  carry  on  our  labors,  side  bv  side  with  our  Scotch,  We  sh, 
and  Irish  brethren.  Yes,  my  friends  o^  the  United  States  and  ot 
Canada  and  of  Europe,  our  Association,  in  labors  of  love,  is  of 
happy  omen  for  humanity,  and  cannot  but  receive  the  Divine 

blessing.  • 

"God  is  Love,  saith  the  Evangel ; 
And  our  world  of  woe  and  ain 
Is  made  light  and  happv  only  when 
A  Love  is  shining  m. ' 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  proceedings  of  your  Executive  Com- 
mittee, which  will  be  submitted  to  you  by  our  indefatigable  fellow- 
worker,  Mr.  William  Tomlin,  of  Connecticut,  will  be  found  to  be 
a  most  interesting  and  instructive  document.  Your  committee 
have  taken  important  action  on  many  matters  which  it  will  be  the 
duty  of  the  Convention  to  consider,  and  possibly  amend  or  supple- 
ment. The  adoption  of  a  uniform  badge  of  membership  now  only 
awaits  the  definitive  action  of  local  societies.  A  general  visiting 
eaxd  has  been  prepared,  which,  issued  to  individual  members  of 
good  standing,  will  bring  the  membership  of  all  our  atfiliated  so- 
cieties into  friendly  communion,  and  will  conff "  the  benefits  of  our 
great  bond  of  brotherhood  on  every  member  of  our  several  socie- 
ties. Your  committee  recommend  the  Convention  to  legislate  with 
the  view  of  preventing,  in  future,  the  fraud  and  imposition  which 
have  so  often  been  practised  on  St.  George's  Societies  by  design- 
ing impostors,  who  go  about  the  country,  assuming  any  nationality 
which  will  serve  their  purpose  to  extract  benefactions  from  the 
charitable.  Your  committee  desire,  also,  that  steps  may  be  taken 
for  the  assistance  of  worthy  members  of  our  societies,  in  their  ef- 
forts to  obtain  employment,  or  to  change  their  residences  from  one 
State  or  province  to  another.  A  new  Constitution  will  be  submit- 
ted to  your  consideration,  which^  if  adopted,  will,  your  committee 
believe,  make  the  Union  not  only  the  connecting  link  between  ex- 
isting St.  George's  Societies,  but  will  lai^ely  facilitate  and  encour- 
age the  formation  of  new  societies.  The  Annual  Report  will 
explain  how  faithfully  the  Special  Committee,  appointed  at  the 
last  Annual  Convention,  fulfilled  their  duties  in  aiding  the  British 
Association  of  Virginia  to  organize  and  successfully  carry  through 
the  grand  International  British  Celebration  in  Virginia,  on  Queen 
Victoria's  Birthday,  last  May.  But  neither  the  report  nor  any- 
thing we  can  say  and  do,  can  adequately  measure  the  noble  hos- 
pitality with  which  the  people  of  the  Ancient  Dominion  welcomed 
the  delegates  from  Canada  and  the  North  to  their  hearts  and 
homes.    In  time  to  come,  the  good  accomplished  by  that  great 


1^       ' 

\ 


ei 


International  gathoiing  will  become  more  and  more  manifest.  To 
those  of  us  whose  good  fortune  it  was  to  unite  in  the  Celebration, 
it  will  ever  remain  a  gre^n  spot  in  our  memories,  while  it  will  for- 
ever give  Old  Virginia  a  wcrm  place  in  the  hearts  of  British  people 
all  over  the  world. 

It  will  be  necessary  for  the  Convention  to  decide  on  the  place 
of  meeting  for  next  year,  which,  of  right,  belongs  to  Canada ;  and 
also  to  legislate  on  numerous  questions  of  vital  importance.  My 
faith  in  the  souiid  common  sense  of  the  English  character  induces 
me  to  believe  that  the  immediate  results  of  our  deliberations  will 
be  an  increase  of  usefulness,  an  improved  organization  and  the 
general  progress  of  the  Union. 

In  conclusion,  as  an  Englishman  proud  of  the  land  of  his  birth, 
and  as  .an  American  not  less  proud  of  the  land  of  his  adoption,  I 
believe  in  our  St.  George's  Union  as  a  missioner  of  good  to  Old 
England,  to  Fair  Canada  and  to  the  United  States.  Never  has 
the  pride  of  race,  tempered,  as  I  hope,  by  the  humility  of  the 
Christian  religion,  glowed  within  me  more  than  at  this  momv<)nt. 
What  a  glorious  destiny,  under  Divine  direction,  is  that  of  the 
Anglo-Saxon  race !  Britannia,  with  her  millions  of  stalwart  sons 
and  hundreds  of  millions  of  Christianized  and  civilized  aborigines, 
carrying  the  standard  of  the  Cross  into  the  darkest  places  of  the 
world !  Columbia,  extending  a  new  Christendom  from  the  stormy 
Atlantic  to  the  gentle  Pacific!  Young  and  already  glorious 
Anglo-Saxon  Confederations,  organized  in  Canada,  Australia, 
South  Africa  and  the  West  Indies !  The  English  language  spok- 
en in  far-off  Japan,  and  rapidly  becoming  the  one  language  which 
men  of  education  must  understand  and  adopt  in  the  ordinary  busi- 
ness of  life,  as  the  Roman  Church  has  Latinized  all  her  services  in 
every  nation !  Such  is  the  outlook  to-day,  and  in  our  efforts  at 
moT'il  and  social  reform,  I  would  say  to  you,  in  the  words  of  the 
poet  whom  I  have  already  quoted : 

"  The  great  hearts  of  your  olden  time 
Are  beating  with  yea,  full  and  strong ; 
All  holy  memories  and  sublime 
And  glorious  round  ye  throng. 

The  truths  ye  urge  are  borne  abroad 

By  every  wind  and  every  tide, 
The  voice  of  Nature  and  of  Ood 

Speaks  out  upon  your  side." 

Gentlemen,  I  have  now  the  honor  to  declare  this  Convention  of 
the  North  America  St.  George's  Union  open  for  the  transaction  of 
business. 


64 


PAPER  ON   THE 

"AIMS   AND  OBJECTS   OF  THE   NORTH   AMERICA 
ST.  GEORGE'S  UNION." 

BT  D.   BATCHELOR,  ESQ.,  TRBA8URBR,   UTICA,  N,   Y. 


Since  the  Executive  Committee  instructed  me  to  prepare  a  paper, 
to  be  read  before  this  Convention,  so«ne  new  and  incessant  duties 
have  occupied  my  time,  hence  my  effort  is  but  brief,  and  your  pa- 
tience will  be  the  less  tried  in  listening  to  the  reading  thereof. 
The  theme  set  apart,  is  the  "Aims  and  Objects  of  the  North 
America  St.  George's  Union."  It  is  a  trite  saying  that  "  Union  is 
strength,"  and  no  matter  what  may  be  the  enterprise  engaged  in, 
the  adage  is  true ;  but  if  united  action  were  applied  to  such  hu- 
mane and  benevolent  operations  as  are  constantly  performed  by 
the  various  St.  George's  Societies  all  over  North  America,  then 
the  old  saying,  so  far  as  we  are  concerned,  would  be  true  and 
beautiful.  It  is,  however,  a  fact  that  the  St.  George's  Societies 
do  not  act  in  concert,  and  indeed,  there  are  those  who  honestly 
assert  that  there  is  no  necessity  for  united  action,  and  this,  too, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  almoners  of  the  separate  organi- 
zations are  constantly  imposed  upon  by  unworthy  itinerants,  whose 
whole  lives  are  spent  in  the  practice  of  deceit  and  inventing  the 
most  plausible  and  pitiful  tales,  solely  as  a  iheans  to  "  raise  the 
wind."  It  ie  also  well  known  that  until  the  last  Report  of  the 
Proceedings  of  the  Union  was  published,  (when  a  very  imperfect 
list  of  the  names  of  officials  was  printed),  most  of  the  scattered  so- 
cieties were  unknown  to  each  other,  and  direct  correspondence  was, 
of  course,  impossible.  Now,  one  aim  of  this  Union  is,  I  hope,  to 
devise  some  scheme  whereby  the  affiliated  societies  at  least,  can 
so  act  in  concert  that  when  called  on  to  help  an  unfortunate  but 
deserving  fellow  countryman,  especially  if  he  be  a  member  of  our 
benevolent  body,  they  can  render  him  that  little  assistance  with  a 
cheerful  confidence.  And  is  it  not  also  very  desirable  that  the 
local  societies  should  be  able  to  give  to  a  worthy  applicant  an 
authorized  credential  as  to  apparent  character  and  condition  !  If, 
on  the  other  hand,  an  impostor  is  going  the  rounds,  it  is  well  that 
he  should  be  heralded  in  advance,  either  by  missive  or  telegram. 
What  I  have  suggested  is  but  tentative  and  perhaps  open  to  objec- 


\l 


65 


tions  in  its  working  operations,  yet  if  esnayed,  goo«l  would  be  done 
and  more  and  more  perfect  methods  at  last  adopted.  I  have  writ- 
ten and  received  many  letters,  along  the  line  of  the  New  York 
Central  Railroad,  on  this  matter,  either  commending  or  condemn- 
ing many  of  those  who  have  claimed  aid  as  unfortunate  Britons. 
As  I  have  before  stated  in  this  and  a  former  paper,  there  are  no 
proper  means  by  which  one  society  can  advise  another  of  the  ad- 
vent of  an  impostor,  nor  is  there  any  system  by  which  the  worthy 
destitute,  as  they  journey  to  their  destination,  can  bo  commended 
en  route  from  one  society  to  another.  I  confess  that  I  have  no 
well-considered  scheme  to  ofter,  relative  to  these  delicate  matters, 
yet  I  trust  that  the  subject  will  be  thorouglily  discussed  by  this 
Convention,  and  action  taken  thereon.  Ought  it  not,  too,  to  be  an 
object  of  the  Union  that  all  its  aillliatod  members,  when  impelled 
to  travel  from  State  to  State,  or  province  to  province,  that  they 
should  know,  by  repute  at  least,  the  names  of  prominent  members 
of  the  St.  George's  or  other  British  benevolent  societies  in  the 

E laces  which  they  visit?  To  make  this  object  easier,  the  Union 
as,  through  its  excellent  Secretajy,  Mr.  Tomlin,  issued  traveling 
cards,  bearing  the  seal  of  the  Union.  These  are  for  the  use  of 
affiliating  societies,  and  aie  to  be  dispensed  to  their  members  when 
going  abroad.  The  cards  ought  to  be  dated  at  the  exact  time  when 
the  traveler  begins  his  journey.  It  is  evident  that  by  these  and 
kindred  means,  if  judiciously  managed,  very  desirable  social  and 
confidential  relations  might  be  made  between  Englishmen  in  various 
and  remote  places  all  over  the  country.  Another  object,  and  one 
of  no  small  import  to  us  as  Britons,  is  that  by  all  these  efforts,  and 
also  by  our  annual  reunions,  we  keep  fresh  the  recollections  and 
reminiscences  of  our  native  land  and  her  thousand  years  of  glorious 
history;  also,  that  we,  anywhere  and  everywhere,  bring  our  great 
commercial  influence  to  bear  against  those  who  would  bring  England 
and  America  into  conflict ;  that  we  at  all  times  endeavor  to  foster 
that  natural  sentiment  of  union  which  exists  among  the  English- 
speaking  people  on  this  continent.  It  should  h'e  a  paramount  aim 
and  object  to  encourage  that  feeling  of  cordiality  and  good  will 
which  so  recently  found  utterance  from  the  lips  of  General  Grant, 
and  which  he  so  eloquently  and  so  ingenuously  expressed  in  the 
presence  of  potentate,  peers  and  people,  in  Old  England,  when  he 
said :  "  I  am  delighted  with  the  cordial  reception  given  to  me  by 
the  people  of  England.  I  take  it  as  an  honor  to  my  country,  and 
I  hope  that  England  and  America  will  always  be  at  peace.  I 
believe,  too,  that  nothing  should  occur  to  disturb  the  peaceful 
relations  now  so  firmly  established  between  the  two  countries." 
The  emotions  awakened  in  the  breasts  of  thousands  of  English- 
men and  English  women  in  America,  on  reading  that  utterance, 
were  of  the  most  exquisite  delight.  There  are  few  cultivated 
Americans  but  in  their  heart  of  hearts  love  Old  Mother  England, 
5 


66 


and  are  proud  of  her  history,  her  grand  literature  and  her  mightv 
achievements.  Shakspeare,  Spencer  and  Bacon,  Peterboro,  Marl- 
boro and  Wolfe  as  much  belong  to  the  American  of  long  lineage 
on  this  continent,  as  they  do  to  the  Englishman  just  arrived  at  the 
port  of  Philadelphia.  Race,  language,  law,  literature,  freedom, — 
all  came,  in  rich  argosies,  to  America,  not  out  of  the  Tiber,  but 
out  of  the  Thames.     Well  might  a  gi'eat  American  poet  say : 

To  England,  over  dale  and  mountain, 
My  fancy  flew  from  clime  more  fair ; 
My  blood,  which  knew  its  parent  fountain, 
Ban  warm  and  fast  in  England'8  air. 


PAPER 

ON  "THE  SOCIETY  OF  THE   SONS  OF    ST.   GEORGE  OF 
PHILADELPHIA,  ITS  USEFULNESS  AND  SUCCESS." 


BY   WILLIAM   UNDERDOWN,   ESQ.,   SECRETARY. 


Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen: 

I  have  been  placed  upon  the  programme  of  this  Convention  to 
address  you  upon  the  "  Society  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George  of  Phil- 
adelphia, its  Usefulness  and  Success."  I  do  not  propose  to  occupy 
your  time  to  any  great  length,  but  as  briefly  as  I  can  to  discharge 
the  duty  assigned  me,  with  the  hope  that  something  may  be  state<l 
that  may  interest  the  delegates  who  have  come  from  a  distance, 
and  perhaps  throw  out  some  hints  that  may  be  put  in  practice  by 
our  younger  societies. 

First,  then,  "The  Society  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George."  Our  full 
corporate  title  reads  thus:  "The  Society  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George, 
established  at  Philadelphia,  for  the  advice  and  assistance  of  Eng- 
lishmen in  distress."  I  know  of  no  society  or  association,  either 
American  or  foreign,  whose  title  is  so  expressive  as  ours.  The 
very  reading  of  our  name  unfolds  our  character  'and  work.  Gen- 
tlemen, we  are  getting  rather  old,  but  we  don't  want  you  to  carry 
home  with  you  the  impression  that  we  are  getting  at  all  feeble  in 
our  old  age,  but  rather  that  we  are  trying  to  be  more  useful  and 
vigorous  each  year  that  is  added  to  our  history.  Some  of  you  are 
perhaps  aware  that  we  celebrated  our  one  hundred  and  fifth  anni- 
versary on  the  23d  of  April  last ;  consequently,  we  are  in  our  one 
hundred  and  sixth  year.  Let  us  in  imagination  picture,  if  we  can, 
the  birth  and  birthplace  of  this  society,  on  St.  George's  Day,  1772. 
There  assembled  at  Patrick  Byrne's  tavern,  on  Front  street,  below 
Walnut,  on  that  memorable  occasion,  eighty-five  Englishmen,  who 
subscribed  their  names — as  you  can  see  by  referring  to  that  first 
Minute  Book  of  this  society — and  formed  themselves  into  an  asso- 
ciation, with  the  title  before  mentioned :  not  for  the  purpose  of 
keeping  alive  any  invidious  national  distinction,  but  merely  that 
unfortunate  Englishmen,  and  especially  those  who  are  strangers  in 
America,  may  know  where  to  apply  for  advice  and  assistance.  It 
may  be  interesting  to  you  to  know  the  class  of  men  who  composed 


68 


those  first  eighty-five  members.  Gentlemen,  we  are  proud  of  our 
ancestors!  The  first  name  upon  that  honored  list  is  the  Rev. 
Richard  Peters,  D.  D.,  rector  of  Christ  Church  and  St.  Peter's, 
who  was  the  first  President  of  the  society.  Robert  Morris  was  the 
first  Vice-President.  This  gentleman  you  will  all  remember  as 
the  eminent  merchant,  financier  and  patriot.  Other  illustrious 
names  might  be  mentioned  if  time  would  pei-mit.  We  will  only 
state  that  in  that  list  were  four  clergymen,  eight  physicians,  seven 
captains  and  one  lieutenant,  and  sixty-five  others,  who  were  private 

gentlemen,  active  merchants,  or  members  of  the  legal  profession, 
oon  after  the  formation  of  the  Society,  we  find  the  names  of  Ben- 
jamin  Franklin  and  Bishop  White,  the  first  Protestant  Episcopal 
Bishop  in  the  United  States.  Can  any  other  benevolent  society 
this  continent  point  to  a  more  honorable  origin  than  ours? 


on 


Could  the  spirits  of  those  departed  founders  gather  here  with  us, 
to-night,  in  this  noble  hall,  and  were  permitted  to  speak  to  us, 
what  should  we  hear?  Methinks  there  would  be  great  rejoicing 
among  themselves  for  what  they  were  permitted  to  do,  more  than  a 
century  ago,  and  then  a  solemn  word  to  us : — "  Be  thou  faithful  to 
thy  trust;"  and  to  others : — "  Go  and  do  likewise." 

We  will  not  attempt  to  sketch  the  century  and  more,  that  has 
passed,  only  to  mention  that  we  celebrated  our  centennial  on  St. 
George's  Day,  April  23d,  1872, — four  years  before  the  centeuvial 
of  these  United  States — a  full  account  of  which  will  be  found  lu 
our  Historical  Sketch,  from  pages  32  to  55.  At  that  time,  our 
society  numbered  three  hundred  and  sixty-four  members,  seventy- 
two  of  which  were  elected  on  that  day.  We  have  now  over  six 
hundred  on  the  roll.  Six  months  ago,  our  mem^jership  was  larger, 
but  many  names  have  been  stricken  from  the  list  on  account  of 
removals  from  the  city  and  other  causes.  We  may  here  state  with 
great  pleasure  that  we  have  now  the  honored  name  of  Sir  Edward 
Thornton,  Her  British  Majesty's  Minister  at  Washington,  on  our 
roll  of  members,  who  is  a  liberal  contributor  to  our  benevolent 
fund  annually ;  and  also,  Charles  E.  K.  Kortright,  Esq.,  who  has 
for  so  many  years  been  Her  British  Majesty's  Consul  at  this  port, 
also  a  liberal  contributor  to  our  society. 

We  have  spoken  of  our  birthplace:  we  will  say  a  few  words 
about  our  dwelling-place.  The  society,  as  you  have  heard,  had 
its  birth  in  a  tavern.  It  now  dwells  in  a  stately  marble  hall :  we 
will  call  it  a  Temple  of  Charity,  for  that  is  its  main  object  and 
end.  During  the  first  century  of  our  history,  we  had  no  settled 
habitation.  The  society  met  where  best  it  could  until  1868,  when 
we  located  in  room  No.  30,  Merchants'  Exchange,  which  was  com- 
fortably fiimished  by  contributions  of  our  members,  for  the  meet- 
ings of  the  society  and  its  work  of  charity,  but  this  room  was  far 
too  small,  only  accommodating^  about  seventy-five  persons.  Soon 
after  our  centennial,  a  committee  was  appointed,  to  consider  the 


69 

propriety  of  building  a  St.  G«'«rs;«''s  Hali.  In  February,  1875, 
the  committee  heard  that  this  projKjrty  was  for  sale.  A  meetinff 
of  the  officers  was  called,  and  the  subjetJt  fully  discussed,  whion 
resulted  in  a  special  meeting  of  the  society  being  held,  one  week 
fi'om  that  night.  It  proved  to  be  the  most  stormy  night  of  the 
whole  winter,  and  some  members  did  not  attend  because  they  con- 
sidered the  night  too  bad  to  get  a  quoram,  which  is  thirteen ;  but 
such  was  the  interest  in  the  enterprise,  that  nearly  seventy-five 
members  were  present,  and  before  the  meeting  adjourned,  sufficient 
money  was  subscribed  to  purchase  the  property,  which  was  done 
the  following  day,  February  26,  1875.  We  did  not  get  possession 
until  June.  "Work  was  immediately  commenced,  under  the  daily 
superintendence  of  the  honored  President  of  this  Union.  Gentle- 
men, need  I  say  more?     Does  it  not  speak  for  itself? 

It  was  opened  with  appropriate  services,  on  April  20th,  23d  and 
24th  of  last  year.  Those  of  you  who  have  not  yet  read  the  ac- 
count of  those  exercises,  will  be  furnished  with  a  copy  before  you 
depart.  There  is  one  fact  connected  with  these  opening  services, 
which  I  cannot  pass  unnoticed.  St.  George's  Day,  our  one  hun- 
dred and  fourth  anniversary,  fell  on  Sunday,  as  you  will  remem- 
ber. It  was  considered  appropriate  that  we  should  have  a  dedica- 
tory religious  sei-vice  on  that  day.  The  hall  was  packed  long 
before  the  time  to  commence  the  service.  Nine  clergymen  officiat- 
ing on  the  occasion,  it  was  a  sight,  gentlemen,  that  will  ever  be 
remembered  by  those  present.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Ruddei-,  retjtor  of  St.  Stephen's  Church,  i  would  ask 
you  to  give  it  a  careful  perusal.  It  will  amply  repay  you.  When 
you  have  read  it,  loan  it  to  your  fellow  members.  Every  English- 
man, yea,  every  one  who  speaks  the  English  language,  is  interest- 
ed in  what  the  Doctor  has  there  sketched.  And  now,  gentlemen, 
I  think  your  eyes  see  and  your  ears  have  heard  that  the  Society  of 
the  Sons  of  St.  George  of  Philadelphia,  is  a  living  reality  and  a 
success.  But  one  point  only  remains  for  me  to  prove.  Has  it 
been  useful  during  the  century  and  more  that  has  passed?  I  wish 
briefly  to  state  to  you  what  our  work  is,  and  how  we  do  it.  Ever 
since  the  formation  of  the  society,  its  main  object,  as  its  title  de- 
clares, has  been  to  give  advice  and  assistance  to  Englishmen  in 
distress,  more  especially  the  newly  arrived  from  our  dear  native 
isle.  It  would  be  impossible  to  give  you  the  century's  work  in 
dollars  and  cents.  Although  a  record  is  and  has  been  kept  of  the 
stewards'  work,  which  is  very  good  as  far  as  it  goes,  and  which 
our  friends  are  invited  to  inspect,  yet,  gentlemen,  I  am  bold  to  say 
it  does  not  give  a  full  detail  of  all  the  work  done  by  the  society. 
F3»it  there  is  another  book,  which  we  shall  see  by-and-by,  in  which 
is  recorded  every  kind  word  that  has  been  spoken  to  the  needy 
applicant,  every  kind  act  and  deed  done  by  the  officers  and  mem- 
bers of  this  society.     I  refer  to  that  book  kept  by  Him  who  no- 


70 


f 


tioeta  the  cup  of  cold  water  given  in  His  name.  Will  it  not  be 
interesting  then  to  look  back  upon  our  work  of  charity  and  love  ! 
Gentlemen,  brothers  of  St.  fJeorge,  I  pity  the  Englishman  who 
now  stands  aloof  from  onr  nociety  and  its  work  of  charity,  because 
it  costs  a  few  dollars  a  year  and  not  a  little  time  to  be  an  active 
member  or  officer ;  but  such  men  will  be  more  the  objects  of  pity 
hereafter,  when  the  Master  shall  say:  " Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  not 
onto  these,  my  brethren,  ye  "X  it  not  to  me."  The  usefulness  of 
our  society  may  be,  perhaps,  best  shown  by  giving  you  one  of 
our  steward's  reports  as  an  illustration.  The  report  reads  as  fol- 
lows: 

"The  acting  stewards  for  the  quarter  ending  July  23,  1876,  beg 
to  report  that  the  applications  for  relief,  advice  and  assistance, 
have  been  quite  numerous  and  varied  in  their  character,  taxing 
alike  the  judgment  and  abilities  of  your  stewards,  as  best  how  to 
meet  them.  Large  numbers  having  been  attracted  hither,  in  the 
hope  of  finding  something  to  do,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  with 
the  Centennial,  or  resulting  therefrom,  have  only  met  with  dis- 
appointment and  trouble,  while  sickness  and  disease  liave  rendered 
many  who  otherwise  would  have  been  able  to  keep  themselves, 
utterly  incapable  of  doing  so.     A  case  of  this  sort  was  that  of 

Thomas  R ,  reconmiended  by  Mr.  Charles  S ,  wlu  had  but 

recently  arrived  from  England,  but  during  the  few  months  he  had 
been  here,  had  contracted  a  seveie  lung  disease,  which  rendered 
him  entirely  unfit  for  work.  Anothei;  case  wherein  no  money  was 
expended  by  the  society,  but  as  <>xemplifying  the  good  it  does  and 
the  work  it  often  performs  which  cannot  be  shown  by  figures,  was 
that  of  a  poor  man,  who,  but  for  the  quick  and  detenuined  inter- 
position of  the  stewards,  would  have  been  not  only  cheated  out  of 
the  money  that  had  been  collected  to  enable  him  to  return  to  Eng- 
land, but  would  have  been  compelled  thereby  to  seek  refuge  in 
the  almshouse.  Many  instances  could  be  given  to  illustrate  the 
character  of  the  work,  as  well  as  the  unwritten  amount  of  pecuni- 
ary aid  that  is  so  often  rendered  by  individual  menibers  of  the 
society,  of  which  no  record  is  made  upon  their  books. 

"  The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  amount  expended  during 
the  quarter : 

Cash  paid  to  three  hundred  and  thirty-two  applicants,  -  $262  60 
Cash  paid  for  lodging  and  maals  to  three  hundred  and 

nine  homeless  ones,     -           .            -            .            -  123  50 

Meals,           -           -            -            .,.            .  9  10 

Twenty  passes  to  New  York,      -            -            -            -  20  00 


S|f 


$415  20 
"  Of  this  amount,  fcixty-eight  dollars  was  contributed  by  individ- 
ual members,  for  special  cases.    We  can  also  state  from  personal 


71 


knowledge,  that  some  sixty  to  rtevouty-five  dollars  in'tditioiiiil  were 
contributed  by  members  of  the  society,  not  recorded  in  the  stew- 
ards' book.  We  would  suggest  hereafter  that  all  perst)nal  relief 
be  erit9red  in  the  contingent  book,  so  that  the  society  may  show  at 
least  the  pecuniaiy  good  it  does." 

This,  gentlemen,  is  the  work  of  a  summer  quarter.  Let  me 
give  you  the  figures  for  a  winter  quarter.  I  have  selected  the  one 
immediately  after  the  failure  cf  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.  The  distress 
witnessed  that  winter,  was  perhaps  unparalleled  in  the  history  of 
our  society.  Our  stewards  met  dai^y  at  our  room.  No.  30  Mer- 
chants' Exchange,  at  four  o'clock,  and  were  frequently  engaged 
until  seven  o'clock,  hearing  the  tales  of  suffering  of  so  many  appli- 
cants. The  stewards  made  eight  hundred  and  nineteen  entries  on 
their  book  for  that  quarter,  representing  from  three  to  four  thou- 
sand persons  relieved,  as  follows : 

Cash  given  to  applicants,  ....  $495  98 
Cash  paid  for  six  hundred  and  seventy-three  nights' 

lodging  and  meals  to  homeless  ones, 
Cash  paid  for  coal,  .... 

groceries, 

meals,  .  .  .  . 

shoes  and  sundries. 


ti 


u 


il 


(I 


269 

25 

93 

72 

108 

50 

21 

25 

53 

74 

$1,042  44 

180 

00 

200 

00 

80 

00 

To  which  W8  may  add  the  amount  saved  by  reduction 

on  passages  to  England,      .... 

Estimated  value  of  clothing  distributed,    - 

Amount  contributed  by  members,  for  a  library  at  the 

institution  where  wo  send  our  applicants  for  lodging. 


$1,502  44 

If  time  would  permit  me  to  detail  the  many  distressing  cases 
that  were  personally  visited  by  the  stewards  and  their  wives  and 
other  ladies,  during  that  quarte  •,  the  stoutest  heart  here,  to-night, 
would  be  melted  to  teai's.  Wa  will  mention  but  two.  The  first 
was  that  of  a  poor  woman,  near  her  confinement,  who  came  to  the 
room  in  great  pain,  having  been  at  the  Continental  Hotel,  to  pur- 
chase ten  cents'  worth  of  pieces.  While  standing  in  line,  waiting 
her  turn,  she  was  kicked  in  the  stomach  by  a  colored  woman,  to 
make  her  fall  back  and  lose  her  place.  We  hurried  her  home. 
She  was,  soon  after,  visiter!  by  one  of  the  ladies  and  two  of  the 
officeit,.  We  found  her,  with  the  new-born  babe  at  her  breast, 
without  any  bed  or  bed-clothes.  All  she  had  to  cover  them  was  a 
piece  of  old  rag-carpet.  We  immediately  purchased  a  conifort- 
able,  soft  mattrass  and  proper  bed-clothes,  and  made  the  poor 
woman  comfortable.    Our  second  case  was  a  family  of  about 


72 


•  >: 


':   '  i\ 


twelve  porson: 


including  tlie  grandmother.  The le  were  males 
and  feii.ales,  all  living— or  r.-ither,  existing— in  a  pmall  bm;k 
fourth-storv  room ;  and  the  landing  of  that  same  floor !— such  a 
eight  I  never  a\  ^h  to  witness  again.  This  family  ah  Mthout  em- 
ployment  and  almost  sfurved,  having  parted  with  almost  ovrny 
article  before  thov  iiiade  their  wants  known.  These  cases  gentle- 
men, will  illu8ti<ito  what  our  stewards  are  doing,  njore  or  less,  aU 
the  year  round.  Let  me  say  a  word  for  our  counsellor,  who  at- 
tends to  all  legal  cases  hrnught  before  the  society,  and  tht^y  are 
not  a  few,  I  assure  you.  One  poor  woman  was  saved  from  the 
gallows  by  his  timely  aid.  Mjiuy  hnving  been  wrongly  cast  into 
prison,  have  been  released,  an-l  many  saved  from  going  to  prison. 
A  very  interesting  case  you  will  iind  on  page  98  of  our  Historical 
Sketch,  to  which  I  would  refer  y<Mi.  It  is  the  case  of  the  little 
child  known  to  us  as  the  "  Young  Zephyr."  who  was  cruelly  treat- 
ed by  a  Frenchman.  We  had  him  arrestee!  and  put  under  bail  for 
trial.  The  bail  was  forfeited.  The  result  w:is,  the  Judge  com- 
mitted the  child  to  the  Northern  Home  for  Friendless  Children,  to 
be  reared  under  the  superintendence  of  our  society,  and  seven  hun- 


dred 


handed  over  to 
age  to  leave  that 


us  in  trust  for  bhn, 


excellent  institution 


when 
and 


he 


corn- 


dollars  was 
arrives  at  that 
mence  life  on  his  own  account. 

Need  I  detain  you  longer,  gentlemen,  to  [.trove  my  last  point  ? 
I  will  only  mention  one  other  act  of  our  society  for  the  good  of 
our  fellow  countrymen,  which,  perhaps,  far  exceeds  all  others  in 
its  wide-extended  usefulness.  To  my  mind,  if  there  were  nothing 
else  on  record,  during  the  century  passed,  we  and  our  fellow  coun- 
trymen, not  only  in  England,  but  throughout  the  entire  British 
Empire,  have  cause  to  rejoice  that  this  society  was  ever  estab- 
lished, for  who  can  estimate  the  amount  of  suffering  and  disap- 
pointment our  prompt  action  prevented.  I  refer  to  our  letters  to 
the  London  Times,  the  Manchester  Guardian  and  the  Liverpool 
Mercury,  in  the  summer  of  1874.  The  cause  of  these  letters  was 
as  follows :  We  learned  from  several  applicants  that  large  bills 
were  posted  up  in  England,  stating  that  ten  thousand  men  were 
wanted,  tc  work  on  the  Centennial  buildings  at  Philadelphia; 
wages,  five  pounds  sterling  per  week.  This  induced  many  to 
take  passage  to  this  city,  to  find  themselves  the  victuas  of  design- 
ing men,  who  only  cared  for  what  they  could  make  out  of  their 
pa;8sage  money  or  the  commission  thereon.  We  felt  it  our  duty  to 
address  a  letiar  to  each  of  the  above  papers,  stating  these  placards 
were  base  misrepresentations.  These  papers  very  kindly  publish- 
ed our  letters  immediately,  with  strong  editorials  on  the  subject, 
and  sent  us  copies  of  their  papers.  There  was  scarcely  a  paper  of 
any  note  in  England  that  did  not  republish  these  letters.  In  fact, 
they  were  also  published  in,  many  of  the  colonial  papers.  The 
result  01  this  was,  emigration  was  immediately  checked,  and  there- 


by  many  aaved  the  bitter  disappointment  they  would  otherwise 
have  been  exposed  to. 

Gentlenien,  one  closing  wovd.  We  are  here  in  council  from 
different  parts  of  this  No;  th  American  continent.  What  is  our  ob- 
ject in  fhua  ansemb'  -^  together?  If  I  understand  it  aright,  it  is 
to  ujake  our  societies  more  useful  for  good  to  our  brethren  in  dis- 
tress. This  we  may  be  enabled  to  do  by  learning  from  each  other. 
If  I  have  stated  anything  to  you,  to-night,  to  this  end,  then  I 
have  accomplished  the  design  of  my  paper,  and  we  will  all  have 
cause  lo  rejoice  that  we  have  met  in  this  City  of  Brotherly  Love, 
in  this  St.  George's  Hall,  beneath  the  two  greatest  flags,  those  of 
EnglaTid  and  America,  which,  placed  side  by  side,  as  they  are  now 
upon  our  Hall,  will  be  the  great  defenders  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty,  and  also  ever  be  the  emblems  of  Charity,  Peace  and 
Love*. 


74 


PAPER 

ON   THE   "IMPOBTANOE   OP    ESTABLISHING    HOMES   FOR 

IMPOVERISHED   MEMBERS   OF   THE   ST.   GEORGE'S 

SOCIETIES,  AND  ASYLUMS  FOR  CHILDREN  OF 

ENGLISH  PARENTS,  LEFT  ORPHANS 

IN  THIS  COUNTRY." 


BY  WM.   TOMLIN,  KSQ.,  CORRESPONDING   SECRETARY,   BRIDdK- 

PORT,  CONN. 


Head  before  the  Convention  of  the  North  America  St.  George's 

Union,  held  at  St.  Georges  Hall,  Philadelphia, 

September,  1877. 


I 


a  1 


V 


Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  : — Being  a  true  admirer  and 
loVer  of  nature,  when  possible,  I  steal  away  from  the  busy  haunts 
of  every-day  life,  and  amid  rural  scenes,  delight  to  muse  and  con- 
jure up  before  my  mind's  eye,  as  in  a  panorama,  recollections  "  sad 
but  sweet,"  of  the  daysof  "auld  lang  syne;"  and  the  following 
truthful  soliloquy  that  our  immortal  poet,  Shakspeare,  declaims 
from  the  lips  of  Jacques,  while  musing  in  the  forest,  often  comes 
to  my  mind:  "All  the  world's  a  stage,  and  men  and  women  mere- 
ly players:  they  have  their  exits  and  their  entrances,  and  one  man 
in  his  time  plays  many  parts,  his  acts  being  seven  ages."  In  the 
course  of  half  a  century's  career,  I  have  played  many  parts ;  but 
the  question  comes  home :  Have  I  played  that  part,  or  have  any  of 
ns  done  so  effectually,  in  the  several  roles  in  which  we  have  been 
cast  in  the  great  drama  of  life,  of  "  doing  unto  others  as  we  would 
be  done  byf"  I  am  afraid  not;  and  we  are  constantly  reminded 
by  the  "  call-boy,"  conscience,  that  the  stage  is  waiting,  and  the 
assistance  of  the  Divine  Prompter  is  needed,  to  turn  our  thoughts 
from  self  and  teach  us  how  to  act  out  faithfully  the  part  allotted  us 
until  the  closing  scene,  when  the  curtain  of  death  is  rung  down 
upon  the  stage  of  human  existence,  "  and  the  place  that  knew  us 


75 


once,  knows  us  no  more  for  ever."  "  Life  is  only  a  shadow,  but  a 
shadow  may  bless  land  and  sea  in  passing."  There  is  a  responsi- 
bility resting  on  every  one,  and  it  l)ehooves  all  of  us  to  examine 
ourselves  and  see  whether  we  have  been  a  blessing  to  our  fellow 
men,  or,  on  the  contrary,  been  so  wrapped  up  in  self,  that  on  an 
honest  retrospection,  we  shall  have  to  admit  that  our  lives  have 
been,  in  a  measure,  a  blank.  In  connection  with  these  thoughts, 
arose  the  idea  of  making  an  eflbrt  to  establish  and  found  homes  for 
our  unfortunate  countrymen,  and  asylums  or  schools  for  their  or- 
phans. I  mentioned  it  to  a  few  friends,  who  thought  favorably  of 
it,  and  I  was  encouraged  to  lay  the  subject  before  this  C'onvention, 
merely  as  a  suggestion  to  be  carried  out  in  the  future,  if  it  meets 
your  approval.  What  is  the  secret  of  our  beloved  country's  won- 
derful success  as  a  nation  ?  I  believe  it  is  in  the  multitudinous 
and  glorious  institutions  of  charity  and  benevolence,  founded  by 
wise  and  good  men,  in  the  days  gone  by ;  and  that  the  continuous 
prayers  of  the  faithful  participators  of  these  noble  institutions  have 
ascended,  like  sweet-smelling  incense,  to  the  Great  Architect  of  the 
Universe,  who  has  blessed  the  land  for  their  sake.  What  feelings 
of  thankfulness  and  pride  well  up  in  the  breasts  of  all  true  Eng- 
lishmen, wbt  n  he  hears  remarks  made  by  observant  travelers,  that 
the  "charitable  institutions  of  Old  England  are  the  pride  and  glory 
of  the  land ; "  and  although  some  of  these  noble  charities  are,  abus- 
ed, and  the  intent  of  the  founders  has  not  been  fully  carried  out, 
still  the  fact  remains,  they  are  there,  lasting  monuments  "  till  time 
shall  be  no  more,"  of  the  good  intentions  of  the  worthy  benefac- 
tors. In  these  degenerate  days,  the  worship  of  Mammon  and  the 
desire  to  heap  up  riches  ("knowing  not  who  shall  gather  them,") 
is  the  all-absorbing  idea  of  the  majority.  "  Is  there  any  money  in 
it  ?"  is  the  first  question  asked  when  any  new  scheme  is  broached, 
as  if  the  getting  of  it  was  the  first  and  principal  duty  of  man. 
How  often  does  it  prove  a  phantom,  and,  like  the  imaginary  dag- 
ger seeu  by  Macbeth,  that,  after  hands  and  brain  have  toiled  to 
grasp  it,  it  "  melts  into  air,  thin  air ;  and,  like  the  baseless  fabric 
of  a  vision,  dissolves,  leaving  not  a  wreck  behind."  Much  more 
ennobling  is  it  to  strive  to  do  good  in  our  own  day  and  generation, 
and  not  postpone  good  intentions  for  others  to  cairy  out  after  we 
have  "  shuffled  off  this  mortal  coil."  That  riches  take  to  themselves 
wings  and  flee  away,  is  a  truism  none  can  deny;  and  instances 
can  be  quoted  where  founders  of  benevolent  institutions  have  been 
glad  to  become  inmates  of  the  same,  through  the  fickleness  of  the 
goddess  Fortune.  Therefore,  do  not  let  our  supposed  security 
from  reverse  of  fortune  lull  us  to  fold  our  hands  in  slumber,  and 
float  calmly  down  the  tide  of  life,  without  endeavoring,  as  much 
as  in  us  lies,  to  succor  our  unfortunate  brothers  who  have  been 
snagged  or  stranded  on  their  voyage.  As  stated  in  the  annual 
report,  oiu:  patron  saint,  St.  George,  is  not  only  the  ideal  hero  of 


76 


M 


\ 


M 


romance,  bat  the  source  of  inspiration  to  benevolence  and  Christian 
love  towards  our  fellow  countrvmen  ;  and  what  could  we  do  better 
than  to  try  and  emulate  his  virtues,  and  copy  the  example  set  us 
by  our  ancestors,  and  to  this  land  of  our  adoption  transplant  axl 
that  will  tend  to  carrv  out  the  golden  rule  of  chanty '/  Let  this 
beautiful  temple,  reared  by  the  loving  hands  of  our  worthy  broth- 
ere,  the  Sons  of  St.  George,  stimulate  uh,  as  a  body,  to  go  and  do 
likewise,  and  establish  a  refuge  for  our  decayed  brothers  enmnat- 
ing  from  the  same  glorious  land  of  our  nativity,  where  they  may 
spend  their  declining  years  in  peace  aiul  comfort,  witliont  the  fear 
of  want,  or  the  horror  of  a  pauper's  giave  staring  them  spectre-like 
in  the  face.  ... 

Where  can  you  find  a  more  pleashig  spectacle  than  m  visiting 
some  of  the  alms-houses,  as  they  are  called,  in  Old  England  ? 
Built  with  an  eye  to  beauty,  lavishly  surrounded  with  floral  beau- 
ties, and  replete  with  comfort  and  neatness ;  the  inmates,  in  the 
evening  of  life,  sitting,  as  it  were,  "  under  their  own  vine  and  fig 
tree,  none  daring  to  make  them  afraid,"  and  contemplating  with 
calmness  and  serenity,  the  final  journey  which  all  must  take,  will 
not  a  blessing  be  evoked  on  behalf  of  the  founder  or  founders 
of  such  a  peaceful  retreat,  where,  after  the  trials,  storms  and  ship- 
wreck of  hopes,  long  since  "  deep  in  ocean  buried,"  such  a  haven 
of  rest  is  found  for  the  poor  tempest-tossed  traveler  ?  1  liuve  such 
scenes  vividly  brought  before  my  mind's  eye. 

Or,  change  the  scene  from  nature's  second  childhood  to  the  play- 
ground of  some  of  the  orphan  asylums,  and  mingle  with  the  happy 
and  healthy-looking  inmates.  Who  does  not  like  to  recall  the 
merry  days  of  youth,  before  caiking  cares  and  anxieties  had  taken 
possession  of  our  souls  ?  It  is  the  season  of  joy,  and  if  we  can  do 
anything  to  perpetuate  that  joy  and  cause  the  participators  to  look 
back  in  after-life  upon  it  as  an  oasis,  ever  to  be  treasured  up  in  the 
store-houses  of  memory,  we  shall  have  accomplished  much.  What 
more  pitiable  sight  than  to  witness  the  squalor,  filth  and  vice  in 
the  form  of  childhood,  running  through  the  ttreets  of  our  cities, 
like  a  stream  of  iniquity.  Is  it  not  a  stigma  upon  the  boasted 
civilization  of  the  nineteenth  century  ?  Are  we  fulfilling  the  Di- 
vine injunction,  "Train  up  a  child  (not  in  the  way  he  would,  but) 
in  the  way  he  should  go." 

Memory  and  perception  are  strongest  in  youth.  A  child  wi'^ 
learn  a  new  language  more  easily  than  a  young  person,  and  a  boy 
of  fifteen  will  discover  a  bird's  nest,  or  commit  a  list  of  names  to 
memory,  more  easily  than  a  man  of  fifty.  As  the  twig  is  bent,  so 
will  the  tree  be ;  therefore,  it  is  our  paramount  duty,  both  socially 
and  politically,  to  see  that  our  rising  generation  is  trained  in  ways 
of  rectitude  and  virtue ;  and  h6w  much  more  is  it  our  duty,  and  a 
privilege,  too,  to  be  permitted  to  provide  for  the  offspring  of  our 
countrymen,  left  destitute  in  a  strange  land,  far  away  from  kith 


77 


and  kin,  the  little  fatherless  ones,  with  no  mother's  loving  hands 
to  assist,  or  loving  words  to  counsel,  in  the  momentous  period  of 
childhood.  In  years  gone  by,  it  has  been  my  privilege  to  attend 
the  annual  eatherin^s  of  the  patrons  and  supporters  of  some  of  the 
leading  orphan  asylums  and  schools  in  the  city  of  London,  and 
when,  diuing  the  evening,  the  children  have  boon  brought  into 
the  banqueting  hall,  and  have  shown  by  their  bright,  happy  looks 
and  interesting  deportment  how  they  appreciated  the  kindness  of 
their  benefactors,  many  an  eye  among  the  guests  has  been  dimmed 
with  tears  of  gratitude  and  thankfulness,  that  they  had  been  per- 
mitted to  help  on  with  their  contributions  such  noble  institutions ; 
and  as  a  happy  result,  many  leading  merchants  in  that  city,  who 
received  their  education  in  such  asylums,  have  to  thank  the  officers 
and  friends  of  the  institution  for  their  first  start  in  life.  By  found- 
ing institutions  of  this  character,  generations  yet  unborn  may  have 
cause  to  rise  up  and  call  us  blessed,  and  we  may  for  our  short- 
comings take  to  ourselves  the  consoling  and  blessed  truth  that 
"  charity  covereth  a  multitude  of  sins,"  and  that  "  it  is  more  bless- 
ed to  give  than  to  receive."  Never  let  us  forget  the  inspired  aphor- 
ism of  our  immortal  hero,  Nelson :  "  England  expects  every  man 
(not  here  and  there  one,  but  every  man,)  to  do  his  duty,"  especial- 
ly so  when  separated  by  distance  from  the  land  of  his  birth ;  and 
amid  the  cosmopolitan  character  of  the  population  of  this  great 
country,  let  us,  as  Englishmen,  show  that  we  live  up  to  the  motto, 
and  that  it  is  not  a  myth,  but  a  stern,  moral,  but  pleasing  duty, 
permeating  the  character  of  every  true  son  of  Albion. 

I  trust  those  few  remarks  on  a  subject  in  which  I  take  a  deep 
interest,  may  meet  your  approval.  I  have  said  nothing  about  Ihe 
ways  and  means  of  providing  for  such  an  undertaking,  leaving 
that  for  abler  hands  than  mine,  but  I  am  sure  it  would  not  require 
any  g'gantic  effort,  but  principally  a  united  one  among  the  St. 
George  s  Societies  throughout  the  States  and  Canada :  an  effort  in 
which  every  individual  member  ought  to  be  interested.  I  have 
no  doubt  that  a  site  for  such  an  institution  or  institutions  could 
easily  be  procured  and  the  buildings  erected,  without  much  trouble, 
and  then,  by  au  appeal  to  our  affluent  brethren  in  this  country  and 
at  '''home,"  a  sufficient  fund  could  be  raised  for  endowment.  I 
know  it  would  require  valuable  time  and  serious  thought,  to  work 
out  the  details  and  carry  them  through  successfully,  but  I  am  quite 
sure  willing  workers  would  not  be  wanting  to  take  hold.  "Excel- 
sior "  is  the  motto  of  the  society  I  represent,  and  "  Nil  Desperan- 
dum  "  is  my  own.  Combine  the  two,  and  you  are  bound  to  succeed. 
Gentlemen,  I  leave  the  subject  to  your  kind  consideration. 


78 


PAPER 

BEAD  BY  S.  C.  C0LLI8,  ESQ.,  BEFORE  THE  CONVENTION  OF 

THE  NORTH  AMERICA  BT.  GEORGE'S  UNION,  HELD  AT 

ST.  GEORGE'S   HALL,   PHILADELPHIA,  SEPTEM- 

BER  llTH.    12th  and  18th,   1877. 


I 


Mk.  Chairmax  : — It  appears  to  me,  sir,  there  are  two  distinct 
principles  involved  in  the  objects  of  this  Convetition,  One  may 
be  said  to  be  charity ;  the  other,  interest.  There  is  the  sentiment- 
al and  there  is  the  practical  side  of  the  matter,  and  I  will  endeavor 
in  my  remarks  to  separate,  as  much  as  possible,  the  one  from  the 
other.  "  The  Society  of  the  Sons  of  St.  George,  for  the  advice 
and  assistance  of  Englishmen  in  distress,"  is  the  title  of  our  socie- 
ty, and,  at  first  sight,  it  would  seem  to  cover  all  the  work  it  could 
legitimately  carry  out;  the  sole  principle  involved  in  that  title, 
the  only  object  for  which  the  society  was  originated,  was  to  "  ad- 
vise and  assist  Englishmen  in  distress."  This  charitable  feature 
was  the  only  principle  recognized,  and  during  the  last  one  hundred 
years,  that  single  plank,  which  composes  the  whole  platform,  has 
never  been  narrowed  and  has  never  spread  beyond  its  original 
limits.  But  we  are  asked  now,  sir,  to  join  in  an  effort  to  extend 
the  usefulness  and  object  of  this  and  other  St.  George's  Societies, 
and  the  question  naturally  arises,  Are  these  objects  legitimately 
within  the  sphere  of  the  society  and  in  harmony  with  the  inten- 
tions of  the  founders  of  it  ?  If  these  are  answered  in  the  affirma- 
tive, it  will  become  our  duty  to  assist  in  shaping  the  character  they 
may  assume,  to  keep  within  the  strict  letter,  or,  at  least,  within 
the  strict  intentions  of  our  charter.  Let  us  look  first  at  its  senti- 
mental side,  which  may  be  divided  into  two  primary  objects :  First, 
the  good  that  may  be  done  through  this  union  of  societies  to  Eng- 
lishmen, individually  and  collectively ;  and  second,  (though  entire- 
ly of  a  different  character  from  the  first  proposition,  yet  in  some 
degree  connected  with  it,)  the  good  that  we,  as  Englishmen,  may 
do  in  our  degree  and  to  the  best  of  our  ability,  in  assisting  to  pro- 
mote the  better  feeling  now  hapjnly  growing  up  between  the 
Northern  and  Southern  sections  of  this,  our  adopted  land.  The 
latter  proposition,  at  first  sight,  may,  perhaps,  seem  visionary ;  and 
yet,  I  venture  to  say,  sir,  it  is  worthy  of  attention  and  discussion. 
I  think  it  will  be  aidmitted,  as  a  general  thing,  that  Englishmen 


79 


do  not  interfere  in  the  politics  of  this  country.  Usually,  we  get 
along  very  well  minding  one  own  business.  We  grumble,  and 
perhaps  with  reason,  at  times,  at  many  things  which  we  conceive 
and  know  are  not  as  they  oueht  to  be,  but  we  are  content  to  obey 
the  laws  as  we  find  them,  and  refrain  from  interference  or  offensive 
meddling  with  elections  or  the  political  questions  of  the  day.  Nor 
do  I  understand  it  as  the  intention  of  any  gentleman  to  involve 
any  of  these  societies  in  a  departure  from  a  well-established  rule ; 
but  rules  are  not  absolute,  and  while  we  hold  to  the  strict  letter  of 
the  law,  we  may,  without  violating  the  spirit  of  our  charter,  extend 
the  sphere  of  our  usefulness.  As  Englishmen,  no  less  than  as  good 
citizens,  the  duty  falls  on  us  to  give  all  the  weight  of  our  influence 
to  further  all  measures  looking  to  reconcilement  and  eood  feeling 
between  the  North  and  the  South.  Our  interests,  no  less  than  our 
patriotism;  demand  at  our  hands  support  for  that  good  work.  We 
shall  win  the  respect  of  the  best  classes  of  the  North,  and  the  love 
and  friendship  of  the  people  of  the  South.  I  do  not  advocate  med- 
dling interference,  but  1  think  it  well  for  Englishmen  to  do  all 
that  lays  in  their  power  to  strengthen  the  best  men  of  both  sections 
in  all  efforts  made  in  that  direction. 

Looking  at  it,  sir,  from  the  practical  side,  it  is  worth  considera- 
tion whether  we  cannot  assist  and  further  the  objects  of  these  so- 
cieties by  the  extension  of  our  knowledge  of  the  needs  and  desires 
of  those  portions  of  the  country  where  they  may  now,  or  in  the 
future,  be  established.  What  is  the  great  trouble  in  the  North,  at 
the  present  time?  Over-population.  What  the  great  need  of  the 
South?  More  population.  Now,  sir,  if  we  can  help  transfer  some 
of  our  superabundant  population  to  the  South,  where  they  are 
wanted  and  where  their  services  would  be  of  value,  we  might  do  a 
good  work,  both  for  ourselves  and  others.  We  should  be  carrying 
out  the  intentions  and  aims  of  our  societies ;  and  while  charity  is  a 

food  thing,  in  its  way,  you  may  have  too  much  of  a  good  thing, 
venture  the  assertion  that  no  man's  self-respect  is  helped  by  char- 
ity, and,  the  bestowal  of  alms  is  sometimes  as  much  a  gratiflcation 
for  the  self-complacency  it  begets  in  the  giver,  as  it  is  a  degrada- 
tion to  him  who  is  forced  to  ask  it.  The  best  possible  good  you 
can  do  a  poor  man  is  to  put  him  in  the  way  of  making  an  honest 
living.  If  you  can  open  up  a  system  of  help  to  the  needy  by  as- 
sisting them  to  fresh  fields,  where  their  labor,  skilled  or  unskilled, 
will  be  useful  and  appreciated  by  those  among  whom  it  may  be 
their  good  fortune  to  be  cast,  you  will  do  a  good  work  indeed ;  and 
the  attainment  of  such  an  object  is  laudable  in  its  intentit  is,  prac- 
tical in  its  nature,  and  would  be  beneficial  in  its  r^^Mtlts.  Such, 
sir,  I  consider  to  be  some  of  the  legitimate  subjects  of  considera- 
tion by  this  Convention. 


I 


80 


REPLY 

OF  J.    k.  H.  ST.  ANDREW,  ESQ., 

TO  THB  TOAST  OF  "OUR  GUESTS,"  AT  THE  GRAND  BANQUET, 

IN  ST.  George's  hall,  priLADBLPHiA,  Septem- 
ber 13,  1877. 

[The  fulJ  report,  received  too  late  for  insertion  in  the  regular  order.] 


I 


Mr.  Presidsnt  and  Gentlemen : 

I  had  hoped  that  this  toast  would  have  been  responded  to  by  a 
gentleman  whose  eloquence  and  power  charmed  all  those  who  at- 
tended the  banquet  at  the  International  British  Celebration  in 
Petersburg.  I  allude  to  my  friend,  Col.  William  Randolph 
Berkeley,  of  Virginia,  a  gentleman  whose  ancestors  were  distin- 
guished in  historic  annals,  a  thousand  years  ago ;  the  scion  of  a 
noble  house,  which  has  contributed  statesmen,  warriors,  philoso- 
phers and  authors  to  Old  England,  and  which  has  been  closely 
allied  to  John  Randolph,  of  Roanokt,  and  other  great  leaders  of 
America.  A  Randolph  or  a  Berkeley  will  always  be  a  welcome 
guest  at  a  British  banquet,  especially  when,  as  in  the  case  of  Col. 
Berkeley,  chivalric  devotion  to  his  native  State  is  mingled  with 
love  and  esteem  for  England  and  Englishmen.  The  absence  of 
the  Colonel  is,  T  am  sure,  a  matter  of  regret  to  him,  and  caused 
by  circumstances  beyond  his  control.  However,  gentlemen,  while 
I  cannot  equal  the  graceful  utterances  of  our  absent  friend,  I  can, 
at  all  events,  speak  that  of  which  my  heart  is  full,  words  of  thanks 
for  the  noble  hospitality  which  the  Sons  of  St.  George  of  Philadel- 
phia hr.ve  extended  to  their  guests  from  every  State  and  province 
and  r  me.  The  Philadelphia  meeting  of  the  North  America  St. 
George's  Union  will  be  henceforth  a  cherished  memory  among 
those  whose  good  fortune  has  made  them  your  guests.  Your  wel- 
come to  the  stranger  within  your  ^ates  has  been  so  hearty  and 
generous,  that  the  stranger  feels  himself  a  familiar  friend,  and  will 
bid  you  adieu  as  if  he  were  leaving  home  scenes  and  parting  with 
his  own  family. 

And  now,  gentlemen,  a  few  words  as  to  the  general  subjects 
which  interest  our  minds  may  not  be  out  of  place.    Attending  this 


81 


banquet  as  aa  Anglo- Virginian,  I  am  reminded  that  a  century  ago, 
the  Quakers  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  Cavaliers  of  Virginia  were 
very  reluctant  to  sever  their  connection  with  the  Mother  Country. 
Mr.  Evarts  recently  remarked  that  "  had  Queen  Victoria  been  on 
the  throne  instead  of  George  the  Third,  or  if  we  had  postponed 
our  rebellion  until  Queen  Victoria  reigned,  the  rebellion  would  not 
have  been  necessary,  and  if  there  had  been  any  rebellion  at  all,  it 
would  have  been  on  the  part  of  England."  Mr.  Evarts  is  doubt- 
less right,  but  even  under  the  then  existing  circumstances,  it  is  a 
fact  that  very  strong  pressure  had  to  be  brought  to  bear  on  Vir- 
ginia and  Pennsylvania,  to  induce  them  to  join  in  the  revolution. 
Joseph  Reed,  writing  to  Gen.  Washington,  in  March,  1776,  said : 
"There  is  a  strong  reluctance  in  the  minds  of  many  to  cut  the 
knot  which  ties  us  to  Great  Britain,  particularly  in  this  colony  and 
Southward."  General  Washington,  replying  to  Reed,  said  that 
the  people  of  Virginia,  "  from  their  form  of  government  and  steady 
attachment  heretofore  to  royalty,  will  come  reluctantly  into  the 
idea  of  independence,"  Thus,  a  century  ago,  the  people  of  my 
State  and  of  your  State  were  united  in  their  love  for  the  Old 
Country,  and  I  am  happy  to  think  that  in  some  degree,  there  is 
still  the  same  common  feeling  between  them. 

Englishmen  may  well  remembov  that  the  noblest  tribute  ever 
paid  to  the  grandeur  and  extent  of  the  imperial  sway  of  their  native 
land,  came  from  the  gigantic  intellect  of  an  American — Daalel 
Webster.  Mr.  Webster  it  was  who  described  England  as  "a 
power  to  which,  for  purposes  of  foreign  conquest  and  subiagation, 
Rome,  in  the  height  of  her  glory,  is  not  to  be  compared  ;  a  power 
which  has  dotted  over  the  surface  of  the  whole  globe  with  her  pos- 
sessions and  ruiiitary  posts-.,  whose  morning  drum-beat,  following 
the  sun  and  keeping  company  with  the  hours,  circles  the  earth 
with  one  continuous  and  unbroken  strain  of  the  martial  airs  of 
England." 

This  is  the  great  Empire — greater  today  than  in  Webster's 
time — which  has  sometimes  been  described  by  foolish  writers  as  in 
a  state  of  decadence.  There  have  been,  even  in  America,  vivid 
visions  of  Macaulay's  New  Zealander,  seated  upon  Blackfriars' 
Bridge  and  gazing  upon  a  dismantled  St.  Paul's.  But  if  we  be- 
lieve in  the  truth  of  the  great  principles  of  the  Christian  religion, 
then  **  the  secret  of  England's  greatness  "  is  not  to  be  found  in  the 
magnificence  and  splendor  of  her  empire,  but,  as  Queen  Victoria 
'told  the  African  chief,  in  that  supreme  revelation  of  God's  will  to 
man,  from  whence  is  derived  the  Christian  civilization  of  the 
Anglo-Saxon  everywhere;  and  may  not  Christian  Englrnd  still 
say: 

"  O,  Oud,  our  help  for  ages  past, 
Our  hope  in  years  to  come."  ■ 

Sometimes,  as  one  who  is  not  in  the  Church  so  m.uch  as,  I  hope, 
6 


82 

qfthe  Church,  I  am  amazed  at  the  doubts  and  fears  of  those  who 
peculiarly  profess  to  be  the  servants  of  God  by  public  identifica- 
tion with  His  Church.  For  myself,  whatever  be  my  perplexities 
upon  formulas  of  faith,  I  can  never  doubt  that  so  long-  as  English- 
men and  Americans  preserve  their  Christian  civilization,  God  will 
protect  them,  for  they  will  be  His  chosen  people. 

A  thousand  years  ago,  Alfred  the  Great  gave  us  what  Lord 
Brougham  said  was  the  sum  total  of  free  government  and  liberty 
— trial  by  jury.    A  thousand  years  ago,  King  Alfred  planted  an 
Anglo-Saxon  Tree  of  Liberty,  beneath  the  wide-spreading  branches 
of  which  millions  of  diverse  races  of  men  have  found  peace  and 
shelter.     This  was  no  tree  of  liberty,  to  be  planted  with  fran- 
tic fanaticism  to  day,  and  cut  down  with  stupid  execrations  to- 
moiTow.     Our  forefathers  watched  it  with  tender  and  constant  so- 
licitude, and  we  who  enjoy  its  noble  shade,  revere  it  as  among  the 
most  glorious  heritages  of  the  ages.     There  are  no  signs  of  decay 
about  it,  and  it  cannot  fall  for  centuries  yet,  unless  the  axe  of 
some  ruthless  foe  should  attempt  to  level  it  with  the  dust.     But 
that  is  what  will  never  happen,  for  were  there  any  such  danger,  as 
firmly  as  I  believe  in  the  grand  future  of  America,  do  I  also  be- 
lieve that,  in  the  hour  of  danger,  there  would  be  heard  the  com- 
manding voice  of  Brother  Jonathan  : 

,     "  Woodman,  spare  that  tree, 
Touch  not  a  single  bough, 
In  youth  it  sheltered  me, 
And  I'll  protect  it  now."        .' 

But,  more  than  this,  I  would  remember  that 

"  This  England  never  did,  nor  never  shall 
Lie  at  the  proud  foot  of  a  conqueror." 

And  if  a  supreme  crisis  were  to  come,  the  brave  hearts  of  Old  Eng- 
land would  rally  to  her  defence  and 

"  Oome  the  three  corners  of  the  world  in  arms 
And  we  shall  shock  them.    Nought  shall  make  us  rue 
If  England  to  herself  do  rest  but  true." 

Let  not  the  world  think  that  because  England  is  a  Cliristian 
country,  anxious  above  everything  to  promote  peace  and  fratenii- 
^  among  the  peoples,  that  she  is  weak  because  she  is  Christian. 
The  God  of  Battles  still  reigns,  and  the  banners  of  His  people 
shall  ever  be  victorious.  As  General  Garibaldi  lately  said,  let  a 
foreign  invader  approoch  the  shores  of  England,  and  he  would 
find  forty  millions  of  people  in  arms,  with  a  volunteer  service  as 
well  drilled  and  equipned  u;  any  standing  army  of  any  despot  and 
nerved  to  victory  with  t.)  e  ct  ';tT>e  foelino"  of:— 


"  How  can  man  die  better 

Than  by  facing  fearful  odds, 
For  the  ashes  of  his  fathers 
And  the  temple  of  his  gods." 

Casual  observers  ave  apt  to  see  the  points  of  difference  between 
Englishmen  and  Americans,  but  the  longer  I  live  on  this  side  of 
the  Atlantic,  the  more  I  am  impressed  with  the  fact  that  practical- 
ly England  is  America  and  America  is  England.  As  Judge  Sto- 
ry told  Lord  Morpeth,  it  is  English  law  which  rules  throughout 
the  broad  domains  of  the  great  republic.  English  names,  English 
faces,  English  fashions,  English  customs,  English  manufactures, 
abound  everywhere.  Of  all  the  Presidents,  only  one.  Van  Buren, 
had  a  name  which  was  not  English ;  and  he  made  up  for  that  by 
the  possession  of  a  character  which  would  have  made  him  the 
model  of  an  old  English  squire.  American  progress  reminds  us  of 
the  gigantic  strides  that  England  has  made  in  our  own  day ;  while 
American  sluggishness — and  there  is  plenty  of  that,  too, — is  quite 
in  accordance  with  English  traditions.  England  may  criticise 
America,  and  America  may  criticise^  England ;  and  that  again  re- 
minds us  of  home.  Did  you  never  hear  of  the  great  dispute  be- ' 
tweed  Leeds  and  Bradford,  as  to  wliether  the  description  ought  to 
be  "  Leeds  near  Bradford,"  or  "  Bradford  near  Leeds'?"  This  was 
as  hotly  debated  as  were  the  Alabama  claims.  Did  you  never 
know  that  "  Manchester  men  "  and  "  Liverpool  gentlemen "  were 
anxious  upon  questions  of  precedence  ?  Are  you  not  awi're  that 
"  the  men  of  Kent "  used  to  contest  the  supremacy  of  their  county 
with  the  "Kentish  men?"  Thus  England  used  to  be  divided  by 
sentiment,  but  the  men  of  Leeds  and  Bradford,  of  Manchester  and 
Liverpool,  and  of  Kent,  were  all  Englishmen.  So,  my  friends,  it 
matters  not  in  the  future  that  we  have  minor  differences,  or  wheth- 
er America  is  stronger  than  Engk nd,  or  England  than  America — 
we  are  all  Anglo-Saxons.  The  grandeur  and  glories  of  the  impe- 
rial race  to  which  we  belong,  will  only  gain  in  refulgence  and 
power,  now  that  the  last  bone  of  contention  has  been  forever  buried 
out  of  sight,  and  Anglo-Saxons — friends  and  brethren — stand 
shoulder  to  shoulder  in  the  grand  march  of  Christian  civilization, 
and  there  shall  be  "  peace  on  earth,  good  will  towards  man,  and 
glory  to  God  in  the  highest." 


Copies  of  the  Addenda,  for  distribution  among  Englishmen,  can 
be  obtained  acparaie  from  the  business  report  of  tlie  Convention,  by 
applying  to  W.  Tomlin,  Corresponding  Secretary,  P.  0.  Box  300, 
Bridgeport,  Conn. 


